Kruzlova: Marshal Konev Statue Covered with Blood-symbolizing Sheet

Kruzlova/Bratislava, 20 October (TASR) - A statue of Marshal Ivan Konev in the Valley of Death, in the land area of Kruzlova (Presov region), has been covered with a sheet symbolising blood, with the non-parliamentary Democrats party claiming responsibility for the act on social media, saying the statue has not been destroyed or damaged. The statue's creator and owner, Slavomir Gibej, told TASR that he has reported the incident to police and planned to file a criminal complaint against an unknown perpetrator. He has arranged for the statue to be inspected for possible damage. The non-parliamentary Democrats party acknowledged covering the statue with the sheet in a social media post. "We have expressed what we think of Konev and his statue. He was at the forefront of the Soviet occupation, which cost dozens of Slovaks their lives. He also murdered many Hungarians while suppressing their uprising and harmed millions of people. His decisions in 1944-1945 also cost thousands of soldiers their lives. His statues belong on the rubbish heap of history, not on a pedestal. Shame on the government that erects them. We promise that the statue will be removed after the elections. We covered the statue with a 'bloody' sheet; it has not been destroyed or damaged," the Democrats stated. "This is unauthorised interference with my private property. So far, I've only reported the incident to police, as I did not know whether any damage had occurred. I'm now about to submit a written criminal complaint against an unknown perpetrator for unauthorised interference with my property," Gibej said. He added that he has sent people to the site to check whether the statue has been damaged by paint. "If no damage has occurred, I will not pursue the matter further, as they have the right to express their views. Everything will be fine. This is their way of expressing themselves. Fine, I accept that they wrapped my statue, but they could have expressed their views differently rather than directly interfering with private property," Gibej added. "The Svidnik District Police Department is investigating the matter as a suspected misdemeanour against public order," said Ingrida Pavlovska, head of the Presov regional police press department. The Slovak Union of Anti-Fascist Fighters (SZPB) strongly condemned the actions of representatives of the Democrats party, saying that covering the military memorial to Marshal Ivan Stepanovich Konev in the Valley of Death with a sheet bearing red stains resembling blood has desecrated the monument and exploited it for political self-promotion. The union also condemned statements by Democrats representatives about plans to remove the statue following a change of government, pointing out that it was private property. Jan Rohar, SZPB deputy chair and head of communications, informed TASR of the union's position in a statement. The statue of Marshal Konev was unveiled in the Valley of Death, in Kruzlova, on 3 October. The ceremony was attended by Agriculture Minister Richard Takac (Smer-SD), MEP Lubos Blaha (Smer-SD), Russian Ambassador Sergei Andreyev and Slovak Union of Anti-Fascist Fighters chair Jaroslav Demian. The statue was created by sculptor Gibej. At the unveiling, Andreyev said the initiative to commemorate Konev in Slovakia had been launched two years earlier by Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD). Soviet Marshal Ivan Konev (1897-1973) commanded the 1st Ukrainian Front during the Second World War, which took part in the liberation of Slovakia and Czech Protectorate. However, he also participated in the suppression of the 1956 uprising in Hungary and was involved in the so-called Second Berlin Crisis, which culminated in the construction of the Berlin Wall. mf/mcs