Under the watchful glare of Roman Shukhevych, the Ukrainian Youth Unity Complex in North Edmonton hosts meetings, weddings and banquets. Aside from the occasional photobomb, the military general immortalized on the front lawn has remained low-key for 45 years.
Last month, the Russian Embassy's Twitter account thrust the general back into the spotlight, questioning why Canadians are tolerating a statue depicting a Nazi corroborator.
It was certainly a political attack fuelled by escalating tensions from the conflict in Crimea and Canada’s recent passing of the Magnitsky Laws, sanctioning Russian businesses.
“Russian propaganda has been doing this for centuries, defaming people who fought against them,” said Ukrainian-Edmontonian Igor Broda. “They malign and denigrate people who were opposed, and in this case, it is those who fought for an independent Ukraine.”
Nonetheless, the tweets have sparked condemnation of the statue from Canada and abroad. Even many Ukrainians find it hard to ignore some dark chapters in Shukhevych’s life. (more...)
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