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Oleksiy Boyko Nationalists vandalize the Vladimir Lenin monument in downtown Kyiv, justify cause by citing presidential decree

Nationalists vandalized the monument to Vladimir Lenin, leader of the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution, on Taras Shevchenko Boulevard in Kyiv. A part of his nose and left hand were broken off early on June 30. Five suspects between ages 20 and 38 were arrested, including two with prior vandalism convictions. They were released against promises to not leave the jurisdiction. In a video of the incident posted on You Tube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64msTrmvkhY), one of them said: “This way we’re executing the president’s decree on demolition of monuments to the totalitarian regime.” They also sought to honor 20th century independence movement leaders Roman Shukhevych and Stepan Bandera. The monument was erected in the 1950s.