Advocacy in Action: Saving Andriyivsky Izviz
Carolers wearing Ukrainian national costumes visited each and every house on Andriyivsky Uzviz on January 20 to wish residents good fortune and prosperity in the New Year. Kyivans and guests of the city joined them in performing a modernized version of the “Malanka,” a traditional New Year’s skit.
The carolers, representatives of the civil society network OPORA, were trying not only to maintain ancient customs and traditions and revive the warm and jovial neighborhood spirit their grandparents knew, but also to underscore the true meaning and importance of the historic Andryivsky Uzviz. The caroling and the Malanka was organized to bring attention to the problems the Uzviz, including the dangerous condition of the stone paving and the street’s infrastructure; illegal construction; and non-transparent rental agreements with owners of workshops, gift stands and galleries.
 |
Carolers performing Malanka, the traditional New Year’s skit, on Andriyvsky Uzviz
Photo Credit: A. Hevko |
The caroling was part of OPORA’s Saving Andriyivsky Uzviz advocacy campaign, which seeks to protect the historical and cultural center of Kyiv - the Ukrainian “Montmartre”- from usurpation and destruction. The campaign has been led by Olha Aivazovska, OPORA project coordinator and a past participant of USAID/UCAN advocacy training.
On August 14, 2006, the Podil District State Administration held public hearings concerning plans for the Andriyivsky Uzviz reconstruction during which the community unanimously spoke out against reconstruction and in support of restoration of the street. But in the official minutes distributed to participants of the hearing, the term “reconstruction” was substituted for restoration. Whether the mistake was consciously made remains an open question, but it led 60 participants to turn to the legal system for help.
The Andriyivsky Uzviz community held its own hearing on September 28, inviting representatives of the Rayon State Administration and Kyiv City State Administration. The group reached agreement on a common public position concerning the planned projects and their compliance with certain laws and statutory acts that are meant to protect the historic nature of the street, which belongs to State Historical and Natural Preservation “Old Kyiv”. The community emerged victorious when the municipal government adopted the public resolution.
In addition, the campaign successfully maneuvered the cancellation of a construction tender on the Uzviz that was supposed to start on October 18 after OPORA activists discovered that the Kyiv City Administration had never issued an official tender for construction on that street.
Back to Top ^ |
