Russian MFA Information and Press Department Commentary Regarding the Decree of Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko Bestowing the Order of Hero of Ukraine on Stepan Bandera

PRESS RELEASE

The decree bestowing Stepan Bandera with the Order of Hero of Ukraine is an event so odious that it could not but evoke a singularly negative reaction, primarily in Ukraine. Already known is the position on this question of a whole array of Ukrainian politicians, believing that decisions of this kind do not serve to consolidate Ukrainian public opinion.

Quite a few negative responses have appeared outside Ukraine, too.

As to the Russian reaction, the media and public entities have spoken out exhaustively in this connection. The tonality of the assessments varies from sarcastic irony to severe criticism, which fully matches the public sentiments in Russia.

January 26, 2010