The President awarded the Orders of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred to three foreigners – citizen of Belarus Mikhail Zhyznevskyi and citizens of Georgia Zurab Khurtsia and David Kipiani – fallen in the course of the Revolution of Dignity. Respective document has been signed by Petro Poroshenko at the meeting with parents of Mikhail Zhyznevskyi. The President has given them the award of their son.
The Head of State expressed gratitude to their family for having raised the hero, the memory of whom will always remain in the hearts of Ukrainians. "You son is a true hero. He has given the most valuable – his life. He has sacrificed it not only for the freedom of Ukraine, but also for the democracy and freedom in Europe and the entire world," the President noted.
In her turn, the mother of Mikhail Zhyznevskyi told that people in Belarus considered her son "bandit and nazi". Unknown people always rip the Ukrainian flag off the fallen hero's grave. She expressed hope that the Title of the Hero of Ukraine would change the attitude to her son in the Homeland.
Petro Poroshenko reminded that the order of the Hero of the Heavenly Hundred had been founded for the fallen heroes of the Revolution of Dignity. The President said that he would do everything possible for Mikhail Zhyznevskyi to be awarded the Title of the Hero of Ukraine. Still, at the moment, the law doesn't provide for awarding this title to foreigners. Thus, respective decision of Verkhovna Rada is necessary. The Head of State expressed hope that the Parliament would adopt the necessary amendments to the legislation.