Coalition TU! is collecting signatures in Brno for a petition to move the monument to the Red Army soldier

Photo: Brno Daily

Brno - The TU! coalition led by the Pirates today began collecting signatures for a petition to relocate the Red Army soldier monument from Moravské náměstí in Brno. According to the initiators, the petition does not seek to erase history but to place it in an appropriate context. They believe that the monumental and ideological form of the statue installed in 1955 does not match the character of the modern public space in the center of Brno. They stated this in a press release. The signature collection is associated with the commemoration of the fourth anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. According to the city, the piece cannot be manipulated solely based on a decision by the council.

The initiators want to open a professional debate about the future use of the space. They believe that the city center should not serve ideological symbols of the past regime. "We acknowledge the historical role of the Soviet Union in defeating Nazism. At the same time, we refuse to allow a symbol of totalitarian power to remain dominant in one of the most significant squares in Brno," stated city councilor and coalition leader Adam Zemek (Pirates).

The petition authors propose relocating the statue to another dignified place, such as the military cemetery or an environment that reflects its historical significance. "Such a step, in our opinion, would allow us to preserve the memory of the events of World War II without the ideological monument continuing to dominate the public space in the city center," added Zemek.

People can sign the petition from home and send it by mail to the Pirates' headquarters on Lidická street, or they can join it in person at selected locations in Brno. The organizers will provide details on social media. After the signature collection is completed, they plan to present the petition to the city leadership.

City Hall spokesperson Filip Poňuchálek pointed out that the monument is a listed cultural monument and also a war grave. "Therefore, it cannot be manipulated solely based on a decision by the city council. First, a change of location would probably have to be approved by the cultural commission, then by the city council and the city assembly. Subsequently, Brno would have to address the entire matter with the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Defense," the spokesperson told ČTK.

The monument is the work of Vincenc Makovský, Bohuslav Fuchs, and Antonín Kurial. It consists of a high rectangular pedestal, on top of which stands a statue of a soldier in a Red Army uniform, signaling "cease fire" with an uplifted hand. According to the monument catalog of the National Heritage Institute, the object represents one of the best monuments of this kind, particularly valued for the significant sculptural qualities of the sculpture. At the same time, it recalls the final military operations of World War II in the vicinity of Brno.

"As an artistic-historical community, we have already agreed in several stages that a top-quality figurative sculpture, beautifully architecturally solved on its pedestal, created by significant personalities and reminiscent of a history that belongs to Brno and the art of the 20th century, should remain where it is. Relocation would cause significant damage to the cultural and artistic history of Brno," said art theorist and author of the book Sculptural Brno 1989-2019 Radek Horáček to ČTK.

The object was vandalized several times after 1989. In 2008, vandals poured paint on it, and two years later, it was spray-painted. In 2015, just before preparations for the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, a heart in Ukrainian colors appeared spray-painted on it. Someone painted it there again in February 2022.

The relocation of the Red Army soldier statue was also a topic in Pardubice at the beginning of February. However, local councilors did not approve the plan.