Penza, 11 October 2016. PenzaNews. The monument to victims of repression, which is proposed to be installed on Sovetskaya square in Penza, may become a symbol of reconciliation of people with opposing views on the same issue. This opinion was expressed by the deputy chairman of the government of the Penza region Oleg Yagov.

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“It seems to me that in the year of the 100th anniversary of the civil war, it will be a unifying idea that will help unify the nation, the people, the population of the Penza region,” he said during the roundtable “The role of the Russian Orthodox Church, society and the state in the preservation of the historical memory of the new martyrs and victims of the civil war and mass repression,” held as part of the similarly-named conference in the governor’s house of Penza on Tuesday, October 11.

According to Oleg Yagov, the monument might become a place for reconciliation for quarrelling businessmen as well as quarrelling lovers who, coming to the monument, might realize that “conflict does not bring any good.”

The deputy chairman of the government said that recently he held a large number of meetings with representatives of non-governmental organizations and civil society in order to resolve controversies related to the monument installation.

“First, the memorial-monument is not personalized. This monument should bring together all parties of the conflict in the present situation. It does not have any ideological or political background. Second, the question was who would finance the monument. It was an initiative of public organizations. It is individuals, the descendants of those who suffered during repressions, are ready to finance the project,” he emphasized.

Oleg Yagov expresses appreciation to the representatives of the Penza diocese for their willingness to take responsibility for organizational issues related with the monument installation.