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Ukraine's capital to remove Soviet symbols by late August

Local artists have raised concerns about the fate of Soviet-era mosaic panels decorating some Kiev metro stations

© EPA/SERGEY DOLZHENKO

KIEV, May 14. /TASS/. The Kiev city council has ruled to strip all Communist symbols of buildings in the Ukrainian capital by August 24 when the country celebrates its Independence Day, the council's press service said on Thursday.

"Any imagery of the main state emblem of the Soviet Union, the hammer and sickle, and of [Bolshevik revolution leader] Vladimir Lenin" will be removed, the press service said.

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Local artists have raised concerns about the fate of Soviet-era mosaic panels decorating some Kiev metro stations.

"The understanding of the importance to preserve the Soviet cultural heritage is a sign of civilised society," a group of artists said in their address to Kiev's mayor, former boxing champion Vitali Klitschko.

The move follows the adoption of the controversial law that aims to 'de-communise' Ukraine. The law, which bans the use of both Soviet and Nazi symbols, was passed by the Ukrainian parliament on April 9 but has not been yet signed by President Pyotr Poroshenko.

The law also envisages renaming scores of towns across Ukraine, as well as some 30,000 streets named after Vladimir Lenin, which may require at least $217 million.

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