Pardubice will consider relocating the statue of the Red Army soldier from the city center

Pardubice – The city of Pardubice will consider a proposal to relocate the statue of the Liberation Memorial, which is located in the city center. According to councilor Jiří Hájek (Pardubice Together), the time has come for the sculpture featuring a Red Army soldier from 1957 not to stand at Tyrsovy sady. The city hall will likely organize a seminar for councilors in June. Before that, they will consult historians and other experts. According to Hájek, this is not about Russophobia or a reaction to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The sculpture does not serve its purpose, wreaths are laid elsewhere during anniversaries, and it also obstructs the view from Republic Square to the castle, he said. Hájek would like a model of the city stream that used to run there instead of the memorial.

Hájek was not the first to raise the issue of the Red Army soldier. The municipal district I recently approached Mayor Martin Charvát (ANO) to initiate discussions at the city hall about the possibility of relocating the memorial. The mayor stated today that a professional group will meet, and a seminar for councilors will likely take place in June.

"It was not that we wanted to demolish the sculpture, but to relocate it. I am pleased that a committee will be formed to discuss this," added councilor Jiří Lejhanec (Patriots of Pardubice), who is also a councilor in municipal district I.

The previous city administration discussed the relocation of the sculpture before the reconstruction of Tyrsovy sady. Historians and the public opposed this. In 2017, architects Josef Pleskot and Petr Všetečka, who proposed the reconstruction of the castle, wanted the memorial to be moved.

The memorial by Josef Malejovský was intended to express the gratitude of the people to their liberators. The Red Army soldier holds a weapon in his hand and leans down to a girl who is offering him flowers. On the sides, there are pioneers standing guard.

According to councilor Jan Hrubeš (Pirates), the city should not rush, so that its actions do not appear to be Russophobic. Councilor František Brendl (Pardubáci Together) had the opposite opinion, stating that it is time to revisit the topic of relocating the memorial. Because it is a war memorial, it would be appropriate to move it to the cemetery, he noted.