On the Use of Monumental Propaganda by Russia as an Element of the Occupation Policy in the Temporarily Occupied Territory of Crimea in 2014—2018

• Main Author: Andrii Ivanets
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: RIUS 2018-12-01
• Series: Українознавство
• Subjects: пам’ятники; місця пам’яті; тимчасово окуповані території ар крим і м. севастополя; гібридна війна; агресія росії проти україни
• Online Access: http://journal.ndiu.org.ua/article/view/153581

The article examines the practice of constructing monuments in the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol temporarily occupied by Russia; the investigated period is 2014–2018. It is shown that Russian and illegitimate Crimean authorities use the installation and dismantling of monuments as an element of occupation policy in order to deteriorate the sociocultural distance between the Crimean population and residents of other parts of Ukraine; the destruction of Ukrainian civic identity; marginalization with the possible assimilation of the Crimean Tatar and Ukrainian ethnic communities in future; justification of Russia’s illegitimate aggressive actions against Ukraine. During the last four years, the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea observed a boom of monument construction. The article analyzes preliminary quantitative indicators of this process, as well as reveals the thematic orientation of 127 new monuments, which predominantly reflects imperial and neo-imperial views. Another 4 significant monuments in Sevastopol, Kerch, and Feodosia are under construction. The author notes that the actions on the installation of new monuments in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine have no legal basis. According to the researcher, in the nearest years it is possible to expect an increase in their number. This activity will be accompanied by the imposition of Russian anti-democratic standards by the Crimeans in the information and education sectors, culture and politics. Therefore, the author predicts preservation of the tendency to deteriorate the situation in the social and humanitarian sphere in the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol. The article proposes to the Ukrainian authorities several measures for the response to this situation, including monitoring of illegal construction of monuments, legal assessment of such actions, and application of sanctions to those who are the most active in illegal activities.