Call to rename road that houses Russian consulate Zelensky Street

Council chiefs are being urged to rename the street where the Russian consulate in Scotland is to honour the Ukrainian president.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, Alex Cole-hamilton, wants Melville Street in Edinburgh to instead be called Zelensky Street.

He has written to Edinburgh City Council asking them to makethechange"urgently",saying it would remind everyone visitingtheconsulateof"putin's murderous and destructive invasion of Ukraine".

Naming the street after Ukraine'spresident,volodymyr Zelensky, would be a "small but meaningful gesture", Mr Colehamilton insisted.

In a letter to Edinburgh council leader Adam Mcvey, Mr Cole-hamilton said: "We must seek to shame Putin at every possible opportunity.

"As such, everyone visiting or writing to the consulate should be reminded of Putin's murderous and destructive invasion of Ukraine."

Renaming the street "mirrors the kind of protest that was used against South African embassies during Apartheid," the Lib Dem added.

He also insisted it would highlight the "proud tradition of solidarity shown by Scots to oppressed and persecuted people the world over".

Mr Cole-hamilton said: "Our city has responded with horror and compassion to the images coming out of Ukraine. The offerstohousethosefleeingthe horror of war in capital homes has been truly inspiring.

"This would be a further beacon of solidarity for the people of Ukraine."

The consulate in Melville Street has been the focal point for several protests following the Russian invasion of Ukraine two weeks ago.