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DPR: Poroshenko’s intention to celebrate VE-Day after UPA glorification is cynicism

Pushilin also said that such laws and statements by the president about Ukraine’s unitary system and the language status lead to a split in the country

MOSCOW, April 11. /TASS/. Vice Speaker of the People’s Council of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) Denis Pushilin on Saturday called "cynicism" Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko’s intention to celebrate VE-Day after the Verkhovna Rada (parliament of Ukraine) adopted a law that "glorifies" the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA).

"Poroshenko’s talk of the May 9 Victory Day after Rada’s glorification of Nazi collaborators, as well as after cancelling the Great Patriotic War concept is sheer cynicism," Pushilin is quoted by the Donetsk news agency.

Pushilin also said that such laws and statements by the president about Ukraine’s unitary system and the language status lead to a split in the country. "Poroshenko’s statements contradict the Minsk agreements. And if we take into account the blasphemous decisions and bills of the Verkhovna Rada concerning the glorification of Nazi collaborators and banning communist ideology, all this together with Poroshenko’s statements splits Ukraine much worse," Pushilin said.

On April 9, the Verkhovna Rada recognised the activity of the Ukrainian Nationalists - Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) as the struggle for the independence of Ukraine. In addition, the parliament adopted a document that cancels Ukraine’s Law "On the perpetuation of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945" and calls May 9 "the Victory Day over Nazism in World War II."

On Friday, Poroshenko said in Odessa that the Ukrainian people together with Europe on May 8 would commemorate the victims of World War II. And on May 9, Ukraine, he said, will hold nationwide Victory Day celebration from the Transcarpathian Region to Lugansk.