Pres Yushchenko gives Stepan Bandera highest medal

January22201017:46

On Jan. 22, the Unity Day of Ukraine, Pres Yushchenko posthumously awarded the highest decoration of the land, Hero of Ukraine, to the WWII leader of Ukrainian nationalists Stepan Bandera, the president’s press service says.

According to the words of the presidential decree, S. Bandera was awarded “for his unbreakable spirit in defending the national interests of Ukraine, heroism and self-sacrifice in the struggle for the independence of Ukraine.”
Yushchenko’s award has been eagerly expected in Western Ukraine, with several oblast legislatures voting to urge the incumbent to glorify S. Bandera.
The decision is expected to provoke strong criticism from the Communists and the Party of Regions who, sharing the Soviet propaganda myths, continue to castigate Stepan Bander as their enemy.

Comments

00:2301.03.10 Mishka
- European Parliament resolution of 25 February 2010 on the situation in Ukraine
  -Deeply deplores the decision by the outgoing President of Ukraine, Viktor Yushchenko, posthumously to award Stepan Bandera, a leader of the Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) which collaborated with Nazi Germany, the title of 'National Hero of Ukraine'; hopes, in this regard, that the new Ukrainian leadership will reconsider such decisions and will maintain its commitment to European values;
00:1901.03.10 Mishka
- This is no good for Ukraine, don´t you have enough problem? The only good thing is that Yushchenko is out for ever!
00:1301.03.10 Mishka
- Yushchenko is an idiot.