Warsaw residents have petitioned to rename Gagarin Street after Polish astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, arguing that the current name honors a Soviet icon tied to a totalitarian regime.
Petition to Rename Gagarin Street
A petition submitted to the Warsaw City Council seeks to change Gagarin Street’s name to honor Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, a Polish engineer, scientist, and European Space Agency astronaut. The proposal was shared by council member Mikołaj Wasiewicz, who highlighted the controversial legacy of Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space, as a Soviet military figure and propaganda symbol.
Historical and Political Context
The petitioner argues that Gagarin, while a pioneer of space exploration, was primarily a Soviet soldier and a representative of a regime responsible for the oppression of Central and Eastern European nations, including Poland. Uznański-Wiśniewski, who became the first Pole aboard the International Space Station in June 2025, is presented as a more locally relevant figure.
City Council’s Response
Warsaw’s deputy mayor, Sławomir Potapowicz, called the petition “unjustified,” citing local guidelines that require a five-year mourning period before renaming streets after deceased individuals. He added that altering the name would create administrative complications for residents and emphasized the need for approval from multiple city institutions.
Procedural Requirements
According to municipal rules, the renaming process requires evaluations from the Warsaw City Council’s Naming Commission, the Local Naming Committee, and the appropriate district council. The proposal must be drafted by the Geodesy and Land Registry Office and approved by Warsaw’s mayor before entering official proceedings. A negative recommendation from the Naming Commission would result in the petition being rejected.
Street’s Location and Significance
Gagarin Street spans from Czerniakowska Avenue to Belweder Street, covering parts of Dolny Mokotow and Śródmieście districts. It serves as a key section of the traffic network in the Sielec area and connects densely populated residential neighborhoods.
Broader Movement Across Poland
The petition emerged following Uznański-Wiśniewski’s ISS mission. Similar requests have been raised in other Polish cities, with some local governments considering renaming streets tied to Soviet-era figures, though all cases must undergo the same multi-step bureaucratic process.
Source: MiejskiReporter, [Źródło 1], [Źródło 2]
