MPs seek granting title of Hero of Ukraine to Belarusian citizen killed on Maidan

A group of Ukrainian MPs has proposed to make an exception to the law so that the title of Hero of Ukraine could be granted to Mikhail Zhyzneuski, the citizen of Belarus.

The deputies are going to file a request to the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko.

“The draft bill on honoring the heroism and sacrifice of Mikhail Zhiznevsky, a hero of the Heaven’s Hundred, has been signed by leaders of the factions; the consent of the coalition’s factions has been received as well. Therefore, I would ask to submit it to a vote this week and vote,” deputy Stepan Kubiv, the author of the idea, said.

The bill recommends not administering Article 6 of the law ‘On State Awards of Ukraine’ to Mikhail Zhyzneuski. The law provides for giving the title of Hero of Ukraine exclusively to Ukrainian citizens.

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Mikhail ‘Loki’ Zhyzneuski was shot in the heart and killed in January 2014 during the events on Kyiv Maidan. Ukraine’s President awarded the Order of Hero of the Heavenly Hundred to the Belarusian posthumously. The award was personally taken by the parents from the hands of Petro Poroshenko.