The Expert Council of the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine on Overcoming the Consequences of Russification and Totalitarianism has prepared general recommendations for local self-government bodies and public organizations with the aim of providing assistance in overcoming the anti-Ukrainian influence of russian civilizational myths, russian imperial and Soviet totalitarian heritage in the public space of populated areas of Ukraine. 

During the discussion, all members of the Council agreed that the process of overcoming the consequences of the russian imperial and Soviet totalitarian policies should be balanced, based on public dialogue, open professional discussion, but at the same time, it can not be postponed in time, because this is an important component of mental resistance to aggression. 

Issues regarding preservation in public space or replacement (in the case of toponyms), or dismantling and relocation (in the case of monuments) must be resolved in accordance with the current legislation on local self-government, as well as legislation in the field of cultural heritage protection.

At the same time, the approaches to decision-making regarding objects, names, and symbols of the russian imperial and Soviet totalitarian past should not be formal, but should be determined on a scientific basis and in the presence of public dialogue. It is advisable to avoid generalized group criteria, instead, it is worth approaching each case individually.

Meanwhile, it should be taken into account that the russian imperial and Soviet totalitarian practices mythologized certain figures and events. An indicator of their instrumentalization is the mass planting of names, objects, symbols in public spaces of Ukrainian settlements.

Taking into account the stated facts, when making decisions regarding the removal from public space or preservation of objects, names, symbols of the russian imperial and Soviet totalitarian policies, it is advisable to take into account the following criteria:

• the extent and consequences of the participation of a political or cultural figure in the implementation of the russian imperial and Soviet totalitarian policies;
• how certain objects, names, figures, or works promote imperial and totalitarian narratives;
• the individual's contribution to the development of Ukrainian and world culture, science and other socially significant spheres of human activity;
• personal outlook position, value orientations of one or another figure;
• a person's attitude towards the Ukrainian identity and the identity of the indigenous people of Ukraine;
• mythologizing and instrumentalization of a figure or historical event by imperial and totalitarian propaganda.

More details at the MCIP website.