One year of Ukraine’s De-communisation. A change in the historical narrative. OSW COMMENTARY NUMBER 211/16.05.2016

A year ago, the Parliament of Ukraine adopted four bills on the policy of national memory: on granting access to the archives of the repressive organs of the Communist totalitarian regime in the years 1917–1991, on the legal status and commemoration of Ukrainian independence fighters in the twentieth century, on the immortalisation of the victory over Nazism in the Second World War, 1939–1945, and on the condemnation of the Communist and National Socialist (Nazi) totalitarian regimes and the forbidding of their symbolism from being promoted. The laws came into force on 21 May 2015. After a year, it can be stated that only the latter two are being observed – the official narrative regarding World War II has been changed, mainly due to the activity of the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance (UINR), but also as a result of public statements by President Petro Poroshenko. The process of removing from public places the names and commemorations referring to the Soviet era is underway, and the fears that this may trigger serious conflicts have not proved true. From roughly a thousand placenames subject to de-communisation some two thirds have been changed so far (parliamentary bills regarding the remaining ones are awaiting approval) and most statues of Communist leaders have been removed. However, the law concerning independence fighters, which raised the most serious controversies, did not have any practical consequences. Moreover, nothing suggests that this could change. The implementation of the de-communisation laws is associated with a significant change in Ukrainian patriotic narrative: it is no longer focused on national martyrdom and it is beginning to emphasize heroic motives, which is in line with wartime needs. The fact that some of these motives are likely to trigger problems in Ukraine’s relations with Poland seems to be viewed as a marginal ‘by-product’.

Christopher Columbus and the New world of his discovery; a narrative

Mode of access: Internet.

Camp, court and siege; a narrative of personal adventure and observation during two wars: 1861-1865; 1870-1871.

The writer served successively on the staffs of Generals T. Williams, T.W. Sherman, and W.B. Franklin, 1862-1864 and E.R.S. Canby, 1865 in Louisiana and the lower Mississippi Valley; and was assistant secretary and secretary of the U.S. legation at Paris, 1866-1871.

The narrative of James Roberts, soldier in the revolutionary war and at the battle of New Orleans.

"One hundred and thirty-six copies reprinted from the apparently unique copy in the Charles E. Heartman collection of material relating to Negro culture."

The Crimea and Transcaucasia; being the narrative of a journey in the Kouban, in Gouria, Georgia, Armenia, Ossety, Imeritia, Swannety, and Mingrelia, and in the Tauric range,

Includes bibliographical references and index.

The narrative of the pilgrim's progress : from this world to that which is to come /

"Printed in the corresponding style of phonography."

"Cheap John's" auction; a narrative in three parts.

Mode of access: Internet.

A brief miscellaneous narrative of the more early part of the life of L. Tilmon, pastor of a colored Methodist Congregational Church in the City of New York /

Copyright 1853 by Levin Tilmon.

A narrative of the adventures and escape of Moses Roper : from American slavery /

"Twenty-fourth thousand."

The Indians' book; an offering by the American Indians of Indian lore, musical and narrative, to form a record of the songs and legends of their race,

With music.

Brief narrative of events touching various reforms /

Last page blank.

Religious communism : a lecture by F.W. Evans (Shaker) of Mount Lebanon, Columbia Co., New York, U.S.A. : delivered in St. George's Hall, London, Sunday evening, August 6th, 1871 : with introductory remarks by the chairman of the meeting, Mr. Hepworth Dixon : also some account of the extent of the Shaker communities, and a narrative of the visit of Elder Evans to England ; an abstract of a lecture by Rev. J.M. Peebles, and his testimony in regard to the Shakers.

"Can any good come out of Nazareth? Abstract of J. M. Peeble's lecture on Sunday evening, July 30, in Cleveland Hall, London.": p. 30-32.

Across Chrysê : being the narrative of a journey of exploration through the south China border lands from Canton to Mandalay /

Mode of access: Internet.

The Basutos; the mountaineers & their country; being a narrative of events relating to the tribe from its formation early in the nineteenth century to the present day.

Mode of access: Internet.