STATEMENT: "The recent act of vandalism against the Holodomor sculpture "Bitter Memory of Childhood" at the National Museum of the Holodomor Genocide in Kyiv was a horrible, despicable, outrageous, cowardly and tragic act against the millions of Ukrainians who were starved to death, under Stalin's leadership, during the Holodomor, 1932-1933 in Ukraine.  The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, should immediately speak out strongly against this act of desecration and take all actions necessary to investigate the desecration and bring those responsible to justice.  The Government of Ukraine should be immediately providing significant leadership in Ukraine and throughout the world by standing firmly against such acts of violence and hatred.

The National Museum of the Holodomor Genocide in Kyiv belongs to the people of Ukraine as a major institution of the government of Ukraine. Construction is underway to significantly expand the size of the Holodomor Museum, to be the largest museum in Ukraine. The world-class expansion is a major step forward and is being paid for through a public/private partnership set up between the government of Ukraine and several special private, not-for-profit Foundations, established in Ukraine, Canada and the United States, for the purpose of raising funds from private donors."

/s/  Morgan Williams, Founder/Curator, "Holodomor: Through the Eyes of Ukrainian Artists", Washington, D.C., morganw9185@gmail.com

«Нещодавній акт вандалізму проти скульптури “Гірка пам’ять дитинства” в Національному музеї Голодомору-геноциду в Києві був жахливим, зневажливим, обурливим, боягузливим і трагічним діянням проти мільйонів українців, убитих голодом під керівництвом Сталіна під час Голодомору 1932–1933 років в Україні. Президент України Володимир Зеленський повинен негайно висловитися проти цього акта осквернення і вжити всіх необхідних заходів для розслідування злочину та притягнення винних до відповідальності. Уряд України повинен негайно забезпечити значне лідерство в Україні та в усьому світі, твердо протистоячи таким актам насильства та ненависті.

Національний музей Голодомору-геноциду в Києві належить народу України як головному джерелу влади в України. Нині ведуться будівельні роботи задля розширення музею Голодомору — таким чином він стане найбільшим музеєм України. Збільшення музею до світового рівня є важливим кроком уперед і відбувається за рахунок державно-приватного партнерства, створеного між урядом України та кількома окремими приватними неприбутковими фондами в Україні, Канаді та США з метою залучення коштів приватних донорів».

Морган Вільямс, Засновник та куратор "Голодомор: очима українських художників," м. Вашингтон, Округ Колумбія, morganw9185@gmail.com

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HOLODOMOR SCULPTURE DESECRATED IN KYIV

"These were definitely not drunken people": unknown people desecrated the sculpture of a girl near the Holodomor Museum

BBC Ukrainian Service, Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, August 22, 2020

PHOTO BY UNIAN, Sculpture: "The Girl with the Wheat Heads"

KYIV, UKRAINE - An act of vandalism was committed against the sculpture  "Bitter Memory of Childhood," better known as "The Girl with the Wheat Heads”, next to the National Museum of the Holodomor-Genocide in Kyiv. The incident occurred on the night of August 21-22, according to the report on the museum's website.

In a comment to BBC News Ukraine, the General Director of the Museum, Olesia Stasiuk, said that there were three perpetrators.

"At night, three unknown persons tore down the pedestal (sculpture from the pedestal - Ed.). Thank God, the monument itself is not damaged, because they could not lift it up, it is very heavy," she said.

PHOTO, HOLODOMOR MUSEUM: Pedestal on which until recently stood a sculpture of a "The Girl with the Wheat Heads"

According to her [Olesia Stasiuk] there is a clear indication that it was a well-planned action. "They distracted the guards under the guise of drunken persons," says Stasiuk, “It (the sculpture – Editorial) was very hard to tear down, they needed an automobile. That’s why it was for sure done not by drunken persons,” – the museum director is convinced.

"It was done deliberately. Moreover just before Independence Day, to demonstrate insult to the memory of the Ukrainian people," she added.

PHOTO, HOLODOMOR MUSEUM: Holodomor sculpture on the ground. Police are working at the scene.

According to her [Holodomor Museum director Olesia Stasiuk] , the sculpture was taken for restoration, the "girl" will return to the pedestal within a month.

FOOTNOTE:  "This act of vandalism against the Holodomor sculpture in Kyiv is horrible, despicable, outrageous and is a tragic cowardly act against the millions of Ukrainians who were starved to death, under Stalin's leadership, during the Holodomor, 1932-1933.  The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, should immediately speak out strongly against this act of desecration." In addition the Sculpture and the Holodomor Museum belong to the government of Ukraine, the people of Ukraine. Construction is underway to significantly expand the size of the Holodomor Museum, to be the largest museum in Ukraine, paid for by the government of Ukraine with support from private donors," stated Morgan Williams, Founder/Curator, "Holodomor: Through the Eyes of Ukrainian Artists" Collection, Washington, D.C.

LINK:   https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/features-53874692

LINK:   https://holodomormuseum.org.ua/news-museji/vandaly-namahalysia-zruinuvaty-skulpturu-pro-holodomor/

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