Parliament has passed a law establishing a minute of silence and a ‘Light a Candle’ campaign on Remembrance Day.

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine amended the Law ‘On the Holodomor of 1932–1933 in Ukraine’ (2006) and established at the legislative level a nationwide minute of silence on the Day of Remembrance of Holodomor Victims at 16:00, followed by the nationwide campaign ‘Light a Candle’.

“In order to honour the memory of the victims of the genocide of the Ukrainian people, the Holodomor of 1932–1933, every year in Ukraine, on the fourth Saturday of November at 4 p.m., a ritual of gratitude, respect and remembrance takes place, a nationwide minute of silence. The start of the all-Ukrainian campaign ‘Light a Candle’. Local government bodies and local self-government bodies within the territory in which they exercise their powers shall facilitate the organisation of the all-Ukrainian campaign ‘Light a Candle’ and ensure that information about the beginning and end of the nationwide minute of silence is provided. The announcement of the nationwide minute of silence and the start of the nationwide campaign ‘Light a Candle’ shall be made through the media, regardless of ownership, as well as through civil protection warning and information systems. Recommendations for the organisation and conduct of the nationwide minute of silence and the nationwide campaign ‘Light a Candle’ shall be approved by the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance,” the adopted document states.

As a reminder, American historian and researcher of the Holodomor in Ukraine, James Mace, initiated the tradition of lighting a candle on the windowsill in 2003. The event gained widespread public support and takes place every year on the fourth Saturday of November, starting at 4 p.m. At 4 p.m., a nationwide minute of silence is announced. This ritual is now enshrined in law and is mandatory for all government agencies. It is also mandatory to inform the public about the start of the minute of silence.