Decisions on changing the names of settlements must necessarily be made with the opinion of the community in mind. This, in particular, applies to the situation with the possible renaming of Brovary to Brovari. This opinion was expressed by Oksana Prodan, advisor to the head of the Association of Ukrainian Cities, in an exclusive commentary to UNN.
According to her, the relevant committee of the Verkhovna Rada should contact the relevant local government to get the community's position. And then take this position into account when preparing a decision on possible renaming.
Of course, such a decision should not be made without community participation. The relevant committee of the parliament should make a request to the relevant municipality to get the community's position. Village, settlement, and city mayors organize public hearings and submit the community's position to the relevant committee. The committee usually asks the municipality at its own meetings and when preparing to consider such an issue
She emphasized that in such situations, much depends on the activity of people on the ground.
"If people take an active part in the discussion at the community level and then write their position to the committee, they have a chance to defend it," added the AUC advisor.
Сумнівні політичні бали: як одна партія намагається позбавити голосу жителів Броварів05.07.24, 13:59
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Lidiya Senko, a member of the Brovary City Council, believes that it is not appropriate to raise the issue of renaming cities at this time ; all efforts should be directed to supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine. And only after the victory should we deal with the names of the settlements.
Her colleague, MP Ihor Kravtsov, notes that the renaming will create additional difficulties for the heads of some municipal institutions and non-profit enterprises. Some medical workers may even be left without salaries.
Famous Brovary residents are categorically against the renaming: multiple European and world swimming champion Oleh Lisohor, future participant of the Olympic Games in Paris, wrestler Alina Hrushyna (Akobia), former world champion in professional boxing Yuriy Nuzhnenko and many others.
Context
A group of MPs led by Roman Lozynsky of the Golos faction registered a resolution in the Verkhovna Rada to rename Brovary to Brovari.
Local residents, with whom talked to UNN, do not support this idea. In particular, they do not understand where the name "Brovary" actually came from, which, moreover, does not sound very nice.
Brovary residents also say that MPs simply have nothing to do. And such controversial decisions are definitely not the right time.