“Servants of the People” initiate a contest for the excise of the Great State Emblem of Ukraine. There is no negativity in this. But only at first glance.
Similar competitions have been held twice in 1997 and 2008. And in both cases the winner was the same sketch by artists Olexander Ivakhnenko and Vitaly Mitchenko and historians Maria Dmitrienko and Yuriy Savchuk. During the second competition, Serhiy Yakutovych, the author of the famous “Mazepiana”, joined the author’s group. Their project is undoubtedly worthy of recognition. It unites around a small coat of arms a crowned golden lion (the coat of arms of the Medieval Rus Kingdom, also known as the Galicia-Volyn state), a Cossack with a musket (symbol of Cossack statehood), a great-power crown of Kievan Rus and a red viburnum (not just a national plant and a symbol of national liberation struggles of the twentieth century.). This project has already been tested by popular recognition. It can be seen in military units, schools, universities and even in the official reception hall of the President’s Office.
What was missing before the full approval of this project? It has twice been recognized as the winner by the State Commission, twice received the approval of the main expert department of the Verkhovna Rada, and in 2009 was even approved by the government. Only one thing is missing – parliamentary approval. That’s all.
But Zelensky’s team is announcing a new competition for some reason. Instead of simply submitting the sketch for consideration in the parliamentary hall. A competition that will cost a lot of public money. And someone wants to launder. I just can’t find another explanation. But the Great State Emblem in Ukraine already exists. It only needs to be approved, without competitions and without spending any money.
