Why Is Odesa City Council Blocking the Petition to Repeal the Pro-Russian Charter?
Introduction
On 25 June 2025, a petition was submitted through the Odesa City Council’s electronic petition service calling for the repeal of Odesa’s current pro-Russian City Charter. It prompted public attention but has still not been published, despite the clear requirements of the procedure.
? https://petition.omr.gov.ua/uk/e-petition/view/2304
What does the law require?
According to the Procedure for Considering Electronic Petitions, approved by Odesa City Council Decision No. 2192-VIII of 26 June 2024, a petition:
- must be published within 2 working days after submission;
- or, if it does not comply with the law, the author must receive an official refusal with reasons provided.
? As of 4 July (the 8th working day), neither of these requirements had been fulfilled.
?️ Screenshot of the petition on the City Council website — status: awaiting moderation
Why are the authorities delaying?
1. The petition meets all legal requirements
It does not violate the Law of Ukraine ‘On Citizens’ Appeals’, contains clear reasoning, identifies the author, and sets out a logical request.
2. There is a strong likelihood of collecting the required signatures
Because of repeated attacks on Odesa and attempts by the Russian Federation to impose a Russian identity on the city, the petition is likely to collect 1,000+ signatures quickly. This would require the council to put it before a session.
3. Political vulnerability of the mayor
If the Charter is repealed, this would directly contradict the position expressed by Hennadii Trukhanov in a 2022 interview: The New York Times:
‘I am concerned about the growth of hatred toward everything Russian.’
What is wrong with Odesa’s current Charter?
❌ Imperial and Soviet myths
- The city’s founding day — 2 September — is tied to an imperial date rather than historical facts.
- ‘Odesa Liberation Day’ — without mention of the change of occupying forces.
❌ Pro-Russian narratives
- The preamble contains phrases about the ‘heroism of Russian servicemen’.
- The Charter establishes Russian as the ‘language of interethnic communication’, which contradicts the Constitution of Ukraine.
? Full text of the petition —
What has already been done?
To determine why the procedure was violated, I sent official appeals to:
- Mayor Hennadii Trukhanov;
- City Council Secretary Pavlo Koval;
- the Standing Commission on Emergencies, Environment and Digital Transformation.
Conclusions
The City Council’s silence is not a mistake but a political tactic.
But the process has already begun, and repeal of the ideologically outdated Charter is only a matter of time.
? Call to the community
Share this information. We demand that the authorities provide an open review and act in accordance with the law.
? Published: July 2025
✍️ Author: Serhii Bondarenko for Green Leaf