Key points
- The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the procedure for restoring historical names to geographical features.
- A standard procedure for identification and renaming has been established.
- The process will involve the participation of academics, indigenous peoples and the general public.
- Different rules apply to the temporarily occupied territories.
- The decision aims to decolonise place names and preserve cultural heritage.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved a procedure for restoring historical names to geographical features that contain symbols of Russian imperial policy. The decision establishes a uniform state procedure for renaming and paves the way for a systematic update of place names in Ukraine.
The new procedure sets out a framework for action by local authorities and executive bodies. This involves identifying places with names linked to imperial narratives, as well as preparing and adopting decisions on the restoration of historical names. The procedures provide for the collection of proposals, their expert evaluation and approval in accordance with current legislation.
The document stipulates that recommendations from relevant institutions and scientific findings must be taken into account. Local authorities must rely on the recommendations of the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance, the findings of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, as well as the results of consultations with indigenous peoples and the public. This approach strengthens the role of the expert community and local communities in the renaming process.
Certain provisions concern geographical features in temporarily occupied territories. In such cases, the conclusions of the National Commission on State Language Standards and the State Geocadastre must be taken into account. This ensures a unified approach and the preparation of decisions that can be implemented once control over the territories is restored.
The government decision aims to implement legislation on the decolonisation of place names. This involves removing names from the public sphere that reflect imperial policies and restoring historical names linked to the cultural heritage of Ukraine and its indigenous peoples. The procedure introduced is intended to ensure a transparent and clear process that takes into account scientific approaches and the views of society.
Read also:
The Ukrainian Parliament has passed a bill on social protection for military personnel – what is known
