The Ministry of Culture, together with the Ministry for Restoration, has approved an updated procedure for erecting memorials and monuments of national and local significance.
This was reported on the Ministry of Culture’s website.
The document replaces the previous rules, which had been in force since 2004.
From now on, before a memorial is installed it will be mandatory to prepare a proper historical justification, hold public consultations, identify sources of funding, and run an open artistic competition. In addition, the document says projects must meet requirements on barrier-free design and accessibility for people with reduced mobility.
The State Agency for Arts and Arts Education will oversee the organisation of competitions for monuments of national significance following the relevant government decision. For local memorials, competitions will be held by designated commissioning bodies.
The document sets out detailed requirements for historical background notes: for individuals or events of national significance, an opinion from the National Academy of Sciences will be mandatory. At the same time, the procedure explicitly prohibits the installation of monuments linked to Russian aggression, the Soviet past, or colonial policy.
An exception has been made to honour the memory of fallen male and female defenders. While the general rule is that a memorial may be erected only a year after a person’s death or the conclusion of an event, this restriction will not apply to fallen soldiers.