Ivan Kandyba
Encyclopedia
Ivan Kandyba (June 7, 1930 - Nov. 8, 2002), was a Ukrainian lawyer, who achieved most fame by being a founding member of the Ukrainian Helsinki Group
.
, who was also working as a lawyer. The two became friends, and Kandyba supported an idea on which Lukyanenko was working - the creation of an illegal Ukrainian Worker's and Peasant's Union (UWPU) (Ukrainian: Українська Робітничо-Селянська Спілка). This organization was discovered, and Kandyba was arrested.
In 1962 and again in 1967, Kandyba served a three year and one year term respectively as a political prisoner
. Upon his release in 1976, Kandyba was not allowed to work in Lviv.
(UHG) which was announced in November 1976 by Mykola Rudenko
.
Membership in the UHG carried a political and personal price. Kandyba was not allowed to practice in Lviv. After a trip to Moscow, to meet with members of the Moscow Helsinki Group
, terms of Kandyba's release were tightened, for example he had to be home at 8:00pm rather than the original 9:00pm.
In 1978 and 1980, Kandyba tried to emigrate to the United States, but was not granted an exit visa by the Soviet Authorities.
Because of his refusal to cooperate and insistence that he be acknowledged as a political prisoner, Kandyba was placed in isolation for 65 days on January 1, 1988.
On September 5, 1988, due to the call for his release by US President Ronald Reagan, Kandyba was pardoned and released.
In 1992, Kandyba joined the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists, and continued to lobby for the legalization of that organization.
On November 8, 2002, Ivan Kandyba died in Lviv at the age of 72
Ukrainian Helsinki Group
The Ukrainian Helsinki Group was founded in November 1976 to monitor human rights in Ukraine. The group was active until 1981 when all members were jailed....
.
Early life
Ivan Kandyba was born into a Ukrainian peasant family in Poland. In 1945, his family was resettled in Ukraine. Kandyba attended law school in Lviv, graduating in 1953. Between 1953 and 1961, he served in the town of Hlynyany, Lviv oblast, as notary, lawyer, and judge.Political career
In February 1960, Kandyba met Levko LukyanenkoLevko Lukyanenko
Levko Lukyanenko ; is a Ukrainian politician, and Soviet dissident and Hero of Ukraine.-Biography:Lukyanenko was born on 24 August 1928 in the Khrypivka village of Chernihiv Oblast, in the USSR...
, who was also working as a lawyer. The two became friends, and Kandyba supported an idea on which Lukyanenko was working - the creation of an illegal Ukrainian Worker's and Peasant's Union (UWPU) (Ukrainian: Українська Робітничо-Селянська Спілка). This organization was discovered, and Kandyba was arrested.
In 1962 and again in 1967, Kandyba served a three year and one year term respectively as a political prisoner
Political prisoner
According to the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, a political prisoner is ‘someone who is in prison because they have opposed or criticized the government of their own country’....
. Upon his release in 1976, Kandyba was not allowed to work in Lviv.
Ukrainian Helsinki Group
Kandyba was one of the founders of the Ukrainian Helsinki GroupUkrainian Helsinki Group
The Ukrainian Helsinki Group was founded in November 1976 to monitor human rights in Ukraine. The group was active until 1981 when all members were jailed....
(UHG) which was announced in November 1976 by Mykola Rudenko
Mykola Rudenko
Mykola Danylovych Rudenko was a Ukrainian poet, writer, philosopher, Soviet dissident and human rights activist. He was the founder of the Ukrainian Helsinki group, and was twice arrested for his dissident activities.- Biography :...
.
Membership in the UHG carried a political and personal price. Kandyba was not allowed to practice in Lviv. After a trip to Moscow, to meet with members of the Moscow Helsinki Group
Moscow Helsinki Group
The Moscow Helsinki Group is an influential human rights monitoring non-governmental organization, originally established in what was then the Soviet Union; it still operates in Russia....
, terms of Kandyba's release were tightened, for example he had to be home at 8:00pm rather than the original 9:00pm.
In 1978 and 1980, Kandyba tried to emigrate to the United States, but was not granted an exit visa by the Soviet Authorities.
Second Arrest
On March 24, 1981, Kandyba was arrested for Anti Soviet Agitation and Propaganda. On August 24, 1981, he was sentenced to 10 years special punishment, and 5 years exile. He was incarceratd in the infamous VS-389/36-1 prison, where political prisoners from all over the Soviet Union were sent./He was labeled a repeat offender.Because of his refusal to cooperate and insistence that he be acknowledged as a political prisoner, Kandyba was placed in isolation for 65 days on January 1, 1988.
On September 5, 1988, due to the call for his release by US President Ronald Reagan, Kandyba was pardoned and released.
Continued Political Career
In 1990, Kandyba created and became head of the political association "State Independence of Ukraine".In 1992, Kandyba joined the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists, and continued to lobby for the legalization of that organization.
On November 8, 2002, Ivan Kandyba died in Lviv at the age of 72