Slovakia’s Interior Ministry has allocated funds to restore the hammer-and-sickle symbols on a Soviet monument in Košice. With repairs set to conclude near the Velvet Revolution anniversary, the decision has drawn strong opposition from activists and citizens, who see the project as an affront to the nation’s democratic legacy.
Funding and Ministerial Support
TThe Soviet monument on Košice’s Liberation Square—a name itself contested, as it honours Soviet soldiers who liberated and subsequently occupied Czechoslovakia for more than four decades—will undergo comprehensive repairs under a contract between the city and the Municipal Greenery Administration.
This restoration, which will revive the controversial hammer-and-sickle elements, will be primarily funded by the Interior Ministry, headed by Matúš Šutaj Eštok. The Ministry has pledged 80% of the restoration costs, totalling €11,100, with the remaining €2,775 coming from Košice’s municipal budget. The decision to renew these Soviet symbols has provoked sharp responses from public figures and activists, who argue it conflicts with democratic values, particularly as the work is scheduled to conclude just before the Velvet Revolution’s anniversary, an event symbolising Slovakia’s democratic transition away from Soviet influence.
Activists Criticise Restoration Efforts
The restoration has intensified criticisms, especially from Košice-based activist and artist Peter Kalmus, who opposes Soviet-era symbols in public spaces. Kalmus, currently on probation for past protests against the monument, voiced dismay at both the funding and timing of the project, describing it as “incomprehensible.” Kalmus argued that the money would be better spent relocating the monument to a cemetery, a move he views as more appropriate and respectful than maintaining it in a central public space.
While Košice’s officials have not clarified the project’s origins, the Interior Ministry explained that it is legally obligated to maintain war graves under international regulations, which they interpret as including this monument. However, critics argue that Slovakia could follow other Central and Eastern European countries, such as Poland and the Baltic states, where Soviet monuments have been removed or relocated due to their contentious symbolism.
Costs and Frequency of Repairs
The Košice monument has required frequent repairs over the past decade, accumulating over €16,000 in restoration costs since 2014. This current project marks the ninth restoration since that year, with officials planning to use artificial stone for the new hammer-and-sickle elements to improve durability. Municipal Greenery Administration spokesman Marek Lukáč confirmed that work is expected to conclude on 15 November 2024.
Broader Backlash and Historical Narratives
Beyond financial concerns, the monument’s continued presence has sparked ideological debate. Many locals feel that its Soviet imagery perpetuates outdated and misleading narratives about Soviet “liberation.” Peter Neuwirth, a prominent figure from the Velvet Revolution, commented that the Soviet arrival “was followed by deportations to gulags.” Last year, Neuwirth helped lead a petition to rename Liberation Square as Legionnaire Square, which attracted over 2,000 signatures. Despite this support, the city council took no significant action, acknowledging the petition without further steps, a response Neuwirth described as emblematic of bureaucratic inertia.
Efforts to Relocate the Monument
Longstanding efforts to relocate the monument face significant challenges. Neuwirth and others argue that the monument should be moved to a cemetery, citing precedents like the 1975 relocation of a Gothic church in Most, Czech Republic. However, Slovakia’s recent designation of the monument as a war grave complicates removal efforts further. Neuwirth summed up local frustrations by stating, “Our law prohibits such symbols in public spaces, yet we are restoring them.”
The Interior Ministry’s support for this restoration project underscores a broader national debate on Slovakia’s Soviet legacy, as many Slovaks call for a re-evaluation of Soviet symbols in public spaces. The timing, close to the 35th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, has only heightened tensions surrounding the decision.
Source: Jana Ogurčáková | Korzár Košice
