Zelensky strips 34 traitors of state awards
Source: Volodymyr Zelensky
On Friday, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a decree revoking state awards earlier given to 34 individuals deemed traitors to Ukraine. The list includes former officials, members of parliament, security officers, prosecutors, artists, and prominent Russian political, religious, and cultural figures.
Among those stripped of the medals are Oleksandr Yefremov, Renat Kuzmin, Viktor Medvedchuk, Dmytro Tabachuk, Mykola Azarov, and Viktor Pshonka.
The decree also targets Russian figures such as Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church, Russian and former Ukrainian celebrities Nikolai Baskov, Philip Kirkorov, Alexander Malinin, composer Igor Krutoy, Karolina Kuek (Ani Lorak) and Taisia Povaliy.
On November 20, President Zelensky signed Law No. 11410, which enables the revocation of state awards for those who “promote or glorify the aggressor state or engage in other illegal actions against Ukraine”. Initiated by Zelensky, the law had received the votes of 283 Ukranian lawmakers.
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