North Lanarkshire Council is set to end an inherited historic twinning arrangement with a Russian town following the country’s invasion of neighbouring Ukraine.
The link between Gatchina in Leningrad Oblast and the former Monklands District, comprising Airdrie and Coatbridge, has been in place since the mid-1980s – although there has been no “ongoing activity” since that council was merged into the new unitary local authority in 1995.
Council leader Jim Logue is now tabling an additional item at Thursday’s policy and strategy committee meeting to seek official agreement to write to the town’s mayor and “advise that the historical twinning agreement inherited from Monklands District Council will be disestablished as a result of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine”.
He said: “We want to show our immense support for the bravery and strength of the Ukranian people and also to highlight our hostility and revulsion at the atrocities which have been undertaken on a daily basis by the Russian offensive campaign.
“Anyone watching the news each night can only be appalled and horrified at the invasion and the devastation it is having on so many individuals and families throughout Ukraine.
“I will be asking the committee to write to the mayor of Gatchina and advise of this proposed action.”
A statement from the council’s administration noted that since the local government organisation which resulted in the transferring of the historic link, “there has been no ongoing twinning activity between the communities of Gatchina and North Lanarkshire Council.
“However, as North Lanarkshire Council is still listed as a twin town with Gatchina, it is now timely to disestablish this twinning arrangement.”
Councillor Logue added of his motion to the committee: “I will also ask the committee to write to the Ukranian Consul General outlining this and highlighting our ongoing support, assistance and admiration for the resistance which the Ukranians have mounted against the Russian invasion.”
North Lanarkshire landmarks including Airdrie’s “boulevard of lights” and the council’s headquarters in Motherwell have also been illuminated in the blue and yellow colours of the Ukrainian flag in a gesture of support.
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