On 1 July, the public discussion of opportunities provided by deventralisation and peculiarities of formation of the Novodnistrovska AH took place in the village of Lomachyntsi in the Sokyryany Rayon of the Chernivtsi Oblast. The decision on AH establishment was made in 2016 by the relevant local councils, but elections for the formation of hromada management bodies were not appointed. However, such a possibility appeared after the adoption of the Law No. 6466 on accession of hromadas to cities of oblast significance in spring of this year.

The hall, where the discussion took place, was completely crowded, and several dozen people listened to the speakers from the street. However, this was of little use, because despite the efforts of invited experts and representatives of the oblast authorities, a constructive conversation did not work out. Taking into account that there was not enough place in the hall for everyone willing to participate in the discussion, the event was moved outdoors – to the lawn next to the building. One of the initiative hromada members literally divided the residents into two camps – the supporters and opponents of formation of the Novodnistrovska AH.

There was also a slight period of reasonable and constructive conversation. Initially, Vasyl Hostyuk, deputy head of the Chernivtsi Oblast State Administration, addressed the audience, and then Ivan Lukerya, coordinator of the Central Reform Office under MinRegion answered the questions. However, then yelling and screaming began, followed by the attempts of some residents to wrest the microphone from grasp.

Existence of different approaches to AH format is a normal thing since there are advantages and disadvantages in each particular situation. Another thing is different manipulations, which, unfortunately, were perceived as true by many.

There were indeed those willing to listen, ask the experts, representatives of Novodnistrovsk or the surrounding villages, to communicate normally with each other, but they did not get this opportunity in an artificially formed fuss and collision of villagers.

No doubts that the topic of amalgamation with Novodnistrovsk is not exhausted in Lomachyntsi, therefore, to be continued.

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