Organizers change the name of regular benefit for Ukraine in Czech city and apologize for having named it after controversial figure
The discotheque to benefit Ukraine that has been held at the Aréna club in Plzeň, Czech Republic under the controversial name "Bandera Party" has changed its name. That original name referenced the leader of Ukrainian nationalists from the WWII era, Stepan Bandera, and sparked agitation on social media.
The Czech Police began to investigate the matter and Mayor of Plzeň Roman Zarzycký (ANO) also objected to the name of the event. Now a post has appeared on Facebook apologizing and informing people that the name has been changed to Ukrainian Party, signed by the organizers of the event, who are not individually named.
“We apologize to everybody who has been hurt by the original name. We were not aware that the person of S. Bandera evokes such strong emotions for some in Czech society. We perceive him as a fighter for an independent and democratic Ukraine against the Stalinist Soviet dictatorship and as a prisoner who was arrested by the Gestapo. However, we cannot ignore his shadow side and the shocking deeds of some of his followers,” the post reads.
Social media users have been criticizing the event for espousing Nazism through the name. During WWII, as the leader of Ukrainian nationalists, Bandera unilaterally declared an independent Ukrainian state and relied on support from the German Wehrmacht.
Bandera was arrested and imprisoned by the Gestapo. His followers collaborated with the Germans in some places and fought against them in others.
His followers also later brutally expelled Polish people from what is western Ukraine today, murdering more than 100,000 of them according to Polish estimates. They are also responsible for murdering Czech people in Volhynia and Jewish people.
Bandera is considered one of the most controversial figures in European history. He was murdered in October 1959 in Germany by an agent of the USSR.
Organizers of the event also say in their announcement of the name change that they do not want to engage in an argument about history, nor do they want to provoke anybody in the Czech Republic, and therefore they have changed the name. “We have been holding this event in the past without any media interest, it ran as an ordinary dance party, and many of our Czech friends also attend it. We have been living permanently in the Czech Republic for many years and we greatly appreciate people here. Once again, we apologize for having given this event a name that has evoked so much emotion, hate, stories and untruths. Our wish is for peace and quiet without Fascism and Nazism for both Ukraine and the Czech Republic,” the organizers end their announcement.
The matter is still being investigated by police, who are assessing and vetting all of its circumstances, police spokesperson Dagmar Brožová told the Czech News Agency (ČTK). The organizers had previously stated online that the event is chiefly held to support the armed forces of Ukraine and that the proceeds of the discotheque held on 14 January were used to buy sleeping bags, long underwear, tactical gloves, mats, personal hygiene supplies and first aid materials for the Army of Ukraine.
