The Federation Council did not see any threats to the historical center of Odessa from Russia

Russia does not pose any threat to the historical sights of Odessa, Andrey Klimov, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs, told Vedomosti (United Russia). According to him, the recognition of the historical center of the city as a UNESCO World Heritage Site will be used by the Ukrainian side “for cover.”

“They need it in order to go about their business <…> There is no threat from our side. They themselves demolished the monument to Catherine II, it remains to erect a monument to Bandera,” the senator said.

UNESCO included the historical center of Odessa in the list of world heritage “at risk” on January 25. About this organization reported on your Twitter page. This decision “recognizes the outstanding universal value of the site and the duty of all mankind to protect it.” The new status gives the Ukrainian authorities possibility request “enhanced technical and financial international assistance” to ensure his protection and recovery in the event of damage to him.

According to conventions on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO in 1972, such status may also be granted to groups of separate or connected buildings that, by virtue of their architecture, their homogeneity or their place in the landscape, are of outstanding universal value from the point of view of history , art or science. Their preservation and promotion, according to UNESCO, should be a priority.

Permanent Mission of Russia to UNESCO statedthat the decision was made “under pressure from the collective West” with disregard for the rules of procedure, and the dossier on the historical center of Odessa does not stand up to criticism, as it is a clumsy compilation of materials from tourist sites.

“The established criteria for considering the nomination were violated, Kyiv withheld from the Committee information about the barbaric demolition of monuments of monumental art within the boundaries of the object, refused to provide additional information requested by the advisory bodies, referring to military secrets,” the statement says. statement Russian permanent mission. They also believe that Kyiv does not intend to preserve the historical appearance of the city, “otherwise the historical names of streets and buildings would not have been changed, the old port would have been militarized.”

The nomination of Odessa for the status of world heritage in the permanent mission was called “another profanity.”

Klimov believes that Russia in this matter should behave like a “civilized state in a difficult situation,” and not “groan or gasp.” “If there were violations [при принятии решения ЮНЕСКО]then we need to talk about them, there are legal mechanisms for this <…> We are talking about a beautiful city that all normal people like. If it will make people happy, then it’s good, no UNESCO is needed for this,” he said.

On November 30, 2022, the Odessa City Council voted to dismantle the monuments to the Russian Empress Catherine II and commander Alexander Suvorov. The decision was supported by 43 deputies, 1 person did not vote. At the end of December the monument dismantled. Catherine II ordered the founding of Odessa in 1794. The monument was created in 1900 according to the design of the Odessa architect Yuri Dmitrenko.