Konev statue in Kružlová covered by Demokrati party

The political party Demokrati has covered the statue of Soviet Marshal Ivan Stepanovich Konev in Kružlová, Svidník district, with a white cloth featuring red spots intended to resemble bullet wounds. The party claimed responsibility for the act, stating that a free society does not build monuments to those who took freedom by force. They described Konev as a leader of the Soviet occupation responsible for numerous deaths of Slovaks and Hungarians.

The monument, which was recently unveiled by the Slovak Union of Anti-Fascist Fighters in the Valley of Death, has been a source of long-standing controversy. While some view Konev as a symbol of victory over Nazism, others see him as a representative of Soviet oppression.

Statue owner and creator Slavomír Gibej reported the incident to the police and intends to file criminal charges for unauthorized interference with private property. He is currently verifying whether the statue sustained any damage from the paint used on the cloth.