A symbolic sentence to Pushkin in Odesa: a noose and a bulldozer demand

Despite the decision to dismantle the monument, landscaping around the Alexander Pushkin monument continues in Odesa. Activists, in turn, attached a rope to the monument, saying that such monuments should be in museums, not in the city center.

In the very center of Odesa, near the city council building, a monument to a famous Russian poet became the object of a new protest action. The activists hung a rope and a notice on it that read: “Looking for a bulldozer.”

The youth organization “We are making you nervous” covered this event on Facebook. Their statement noted that the monument was thus “prepared for Easter,” indicating the urgent need to dismantle it. They called for adherence to Ukrainian traditions, which provide for “getting rid of junk” before the holidays.

The initiators of the action emphasized that the figure of Pushkin symbolizes Russia’s colonial policy and the Soviet past, so such monuments should not be placed in the public space of independent Ukraine. They believe that history should be studied through museum exhibits, not street monuments.

The organization also expressed indignation at the Odesa City Council’s inaction in implementing the decision to dismantle the sculpture. The activists noted that instead, the monument is being repaired, and flowers are being planted around it.

In their appeal to citizens, the activists suggested calling the mayor, Hennadiy Trukhanov, to speed up the dismantling process, emphasizing that the monument is a marker of the “Russian world” in the center of Odesa.