Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has forwarded a public petition to strip controversial rapper and producer Potap of his title of Honored Artist of Ukraine to the nation's Cabinet of Ministers and the Security Service of Ukraine.
Zelensky published his response to electronic petition number 22/269494 on the official presidential website. He requested that Prime Minister of Ukraine Serhiy Koretskyi and acting head of the Security Service of Ukraine Major General Oleksandr Poklad review the matter within their legal authority.
In his statement, Zelensky thanked citizens who signed the appeal for their active civic position and for supporting initiatives to protect Ukraine's cultural and information space from Russian influences and narratives. The president also outlined the legal grounds under which an individual can be deprived of a state honor.
Petition signatures and allegations
The petition collected the 25,000 signatures required for official presidential consideration, according to reporting by Ukrainian news agency UNIAN. Under Ukrainian law, public petitions that reach this threshold must receive a formal response from the head of state.
Supporters of the petition claim that the performer's public conduct does not correspond to the status of an individual awarded a state honor and contributes to the popularisation of Russian cultural spheres. The petition text further alleges that Potap regularly displays public contempt for Ukrainian language and culture by offering Russian as an alternative and promoting its spread at the expense of Ukrainian usage.
Artist response and background
Potap, whose real name is Oleksiy Potapenko, is a well-known Ukrainian musician, songwriter, and executive producer who received the title of Honored Artist of Ukraine for his contributions to the country's entertainment industry. The distinction is a state award granted for outstanding achievements in the development of Ukrainian arts and culture.
The agencies tasked with reviewing the matter hold key roles in Ukraine's government structure. The Security Service of Ukraine, known as the SBU, functions as the principal state security agency, while the Cabinet of Ministers serves as the highest executive body.
Responding to the creation of the petition, Potap stated that he was ready to voluntarily renounce the honorary title.
