What will happen to the Kyiv Bulgakov Museum

Bulgakov Museum in Kyiv / Facebook

Head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory Anton Drobovich commented on the decision of UINP experts to recognize the Russian writer Mikhail Bulgakov Ukrainophobe and Russian emperor. And he told what consequences this conclusion will have and what might happen to the Bulgakov Museum in Kyiv.

He told about this on Radio Kultura.

Drobovych noted that he considers the experts’ conclusion “a bit emotional”, but admits that “they called a spade a spade.”

“Bulgakov was really born in Kyiv, really lived here, graduated from the university, practiced medicine, but was completely, to the core, a Russian imperial chauvinist. He was mobilized into various units of various Ukrainian formations, he left all these units. The only unit in which he voluntarily served was the White Guards“, said the head of the UINP.

Drobovich added that he does not consider Bulgakov a chauvinist: “He simply did not see Ukrainians as a separate force. He denied the existence of the Ukrainian political project“.

He stated that the existence in Ukraine of toponyms and monuments to a person who denied its independence and did not take it seriously is strange. “Please read Bulgakov. Research as much as you want. Someone loves – love for health. But there will be no names of streets, monuments and names of objectsDrobovych said.

The head of the National Union of Ukrainian National People’s Republic of Ukraine also spoke about the future fate of the Bulgakov Museum in Kyiv. The institution will have to change its name, but it should not be closed, Drobovich is convinced. “By law, they will be forced to change the name, but no one forbids them to continue talking about Bulgakov’s work. But tell the whole truth, because the museum has a unique collection. And there is a lot to tell. So that all these delegations know that the only place where the whole truth about Bulgakov will be told is Kyiv. Come, see“, he explained.

Drobovych stressed that he does not support the closing of the museum because its existence gives Ukraine the opportunity to express its view of Bulgakov’s legacy and personality.

“The fact that we close the Bulgakov Museum in Kyiv will not make it disappear from the world. This is a powerful, talented author. And it happens that not very good people become powerful, talented authors. If we want to fight for the fact that Ukrainians form meanings…we cannot fold quotation marks and throw it out of our discourse, and then be offended that we cannot influence anything. I would recommend having a voice in this global discussionDrobovych concluded.