The Ministry of Culture of Ukraine together with the "Ukrainian Book Institute" purchased 1 copies of the children's book "Princess + Princess: Happily Ever After" for children's libraries. Bright comic written by New Zealand author Cathy O'Neill, intended for children over five years old.
This was reported by the public organization "Vse vmeste", which advocates the traditional family and Christian values.
In particular, the attention of activists was attracted by the fact that the book tells a story about two girls that ends with their wedding. Note that one of the princesses is white-skinned, and the second is dark-skinned with a mohawk-style hairstyle.
The office of this organization sent requests for access to public information to the "Ukrainian Book Institute" and the State Committee for Television and Radio Broadcasting.
"The answers came from the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy. In a letter signed by State Secretary Yaremy Shysh, it is admitted that the book "Princess + Princess: Long and Happily" was indeed purchased at the expense of the state and distributed among children's and school libraries throughout Ukraine," the message says.
In turn, the "Ukrainian Institute of Books" provided a protocol with a decision on carrying out the procedure for the purchase of books to replenish libraries at the expense of the state budget. This document states that the list of books was approved by order of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 598 dated July 5, 2019, when the government was still headed by Vladimir Groysman.
"It is also indicated that the person authorized to form the list of books is the Institute of Books in the person of Yury Marchenko, as well as the publishing house "Native Language". Thus, the book "Princess + Princess" was among those approved by the protocol of Marchenko and "Native Language". In general, the purchase of production for the total sum of 666 hryvnias (without VAT) was agreed then," the activists added.
