Russia quietly dismantles Lesya Ukrainka museum in Crimea

Source: Golos Krumy

Investigation into the current state of things in Crimean cultural sites found that Russian officials have quietly closed down Lesya Ukrainka Museum in Yalta.

Initially dedicated to the Crimean period in the life of the renowned Ukrainian poet, the museum now has only a Soviet-era plaque on its building marking her stay in the city in the late 19th century.

Meanwhile, visitors are offered a tour of its four rooms featuring items that focus on the history of the place, Yalta’s musical life of the early 20th century, the city’s literary scene, and, for some reason, the life of local architect Krasnov.

Lesya Ukrainka items have been allegedly put out of sight apart from her tiny writing desk and a couple of her photos tucked among images of Pushkin, Tolstoy, and Tsvetaeva.

In recent days, Moscow’s official rhetoric has been dominated by hysteria over the decision of…

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