Zelenskyy signed the law on the National Pantheon
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed the law “On the Ukrainian National Pantheon.” The document defines the Pantheon as a national memorial site in Kyiv where Ukrainians who have made exceptional contributions to the struggle for independence, nation-building, the development of culture and science, and the defense of Ukraine will be honored.
The bill’s page on the Verkhovna Rada website confirms the signing of the law. According to the document, the Ukrainian National Pantheon will be a memorial complex in Kyiv. It will have the status of state property. The Pantheon cannot be privatized or leased. The land on which it is located will also be used exclusively for the purposes specified by law.
The document explains that the Pantheon is intended to be a place of remembrance and honor for the most outstanding representatives of the Ukrainian nation. “The Pantheon is a nationwide place of remembrance for the Ukrainian people, a place to honor the most outstanding representatives of the Ukrainian nation who have made an exceptional, historically significant contribution to the attainment and restoration of independence, to the formation and development of the Ukrainian state, and to the protection of its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the law states.
People can be honored in the Pantheon not only through burial. The law also provides for honorary reburials, the erection of cenotaphs, and other forms of commemoration.
Who Can Be Inducted into the Pantheon
This refers to individuals who have made significant contributions to Ukraine’s development. These may include outstanding statesmen, military leaders, scientists, artists, athletes, writers, and representatives of civil society.
The document specifically mentions individuals who have contributed to the formation of the Ukrainian literary language and the development of culture, art, science, sports, or religion. The Pantheon will also honor those who fought for Ukraine’s independence and defended its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Who Will Decide on Burials
A special commission will be established for this purpose. It will consider matters regarding the burial and reburial of individuals in the Pantheon. Historians, scholars, government officials, and other experts may be invited to participate in the commission’s work.
The law also specifies the circumstances under which reburials may take place. For example, if the remains of a prominent figure are located abroad or if the state wishes to honor their memory at the highest level. For certain cases, a specific period must elapse from the date of the person’s death.
The Pantheon will have a Book of Remembrance
Separately, the creation of a Book of Remembrance is provided for. It will be maintained by the legal entity that manages the Pantheon. The book will contain information about the people honored in the Pantheon, as well as details about their contributions to the development and defense of Ukraine.
Thus, the Book of Remembrance is intended to serve as a kind of national chronicle of the people whom the country considers to be among the most prominent figures in its history.
There will be an honor guard at the Pantheon
The law stipulates that an honor guard will be on duty around the clock on the grounds of the Pantheon. The document takes effect the day after its official publication.
Thus, the Ukrainian National Pantheon has been granted a separate legislative framework. Its main purpose is to serve as a national memorial where individuals who have made significant contributions to Ukraine’s independence, development, and defense will be honored at the highest level. This is stated in the bill’s summary published on the Verkhovna Rada’s website.
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