OPPOSITION PLATFORM – FOR LIFE MPs might support the renaming of the Dnipropetrovsk region to the Dnipro region, but oppose renaming the Kirovohrad region. This was stated by MP Serhiy Lovochkin on the sidelines of the Verkhovna Rada. According to him, these issues should be the subject of direct democracy.

“We may support the renaming of the Dnipropetrovsk region to the Dnipro region, but strongly oppose the renaming of the Kirovohrad region to the Kropyvnytskyi region. Why? Because, according to our measurements, people do not support renaming the Kirovohrad region. Therefore, we will support wishes of the residents of these regions,” Lovochkin stated.

The politician said there were many different opinions regarding the renaming, but the OPPOSITION PLATFORM – FOR LIFE supports the matter is solved through direct democracy.

“I believe, and it’s our common stand, that local referendums should be held, and only after that it is necessary to decide whether to rename or not. Because cities or regions should not be renamed in the parliamentary building. This decision should be a matter of direct democracy,” Lovochkin explained.

As reported, in July, the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Legal Policy and Justice supported draft laws on amending Article 133 of the Constitution of Ukraine No. 8329 and No. 8380 on renaming the Dnipropetrovsk and the Kirovohrad regions. On Nov. 20, the Verkhovna Rada voted for sending the decision on renaming the Kirovohrad region to the Kropyvnytskyi region to the Constitutional Court, but failed to vote on renaming the Dnipropetrovsk region to the Sicheslav region.