Open letter to Leonid Chernovetskyi the Mayor of the city of Kyiv and the members of the City Council: We, citizens of Ukraine, friends of Ukraine, and members of the Ukrainian Diaspora worldwide are writing to express our outrage and condemn plans to build a hotel in the Holocaust memorial park of Babyn Yar (Babi Yar), the renowned site of one of the largest mass murders by shooting conducted by Nazis during the Second World War. The city councilors who approved this plan showed a blatant lack of responsibility towards the citizens who gave them their trust and elected them as their representatives. We ask you: what kind of message are you sending to the rest of the world on behalf of the people of Ukraine who voted for you Not only have you disrespected the memory of the innocent lives that were lost in Babyn Yar - Jews, Ukrainians, Russians, Romas and others - you have also overlooked the feelings of the living all over the world. An action like this belies the multi cultural nature of Ukraine, sabotages Ukraine's inclusive democratic development and undermines the effort of many government members, organizations and individuals who work tirelessly to bring reconciliation among people who live or have lived on the territory of Ukraine. Finally, this action would desecrate sacred ground. We demand a rejection of any commercial building or hotel in Babyn Yar and ask for a public apology not only from the mayor of Kyiv but also from every one of the city council members who voted for this plan.

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