Moscow protests against transfer of remains of Ukrainian nationalist Melnyk from Luxembourg
Russia described the reburial of the leader of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists as glorification of Nazism.
Russia summoned the Luxembourg ambassador on Thursday over the exhumation of the remains of Ukrainian nationalist leader Andriy Melnyk, whose remains were transferred from Luxembourg to Ukraine.
Deep concern
Melnyk, whom Moscow considers a collaborator of Nazi Germany, was reburied near Kyiv with state honors on Monday.
The Kremlin condemned the move, and the Israeli Holocaust memorial Yad Vashem said it was "deeply concerned" by the decision.
The Russian Foreign Ministry announced that it had delivered a "strong protest" to Luxembourg. "The Russian side views such actions by the Luxembourg authorities as ignoring the historical memory of millions of victims of World War II and as complicity in the glorification of Nazis and their accomplices," the ministry said. Luxembourg authorities did not immediately comment.
Died in Germany
Andriy Melnyk was the leader of one faction of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN), which fought against Soviet rule and collaborated with Nazi Germany during World War II.
The OUN operated mainly from the 1930s to the 1950s and was involved in deportations and massacres of Jews and Poles.
Melnyk died in Germany in 1964 at the age of 73 and was buried in Luxembourg.
Source: SITA.sk - Moscow protests against transfer of remains of Ukrainian nationalist Melnyk from Luxembourg © SITA All rights reserved.
