Mykola Horbal
Encyclopedia
Mykola Andriyovych Horbal is a well-known Ukrainian
dissident, human right activists, member of parliament of Ukraine, poet, and member of the Ukrainian Helsinki Group
From 1963 to 1970, Horbal worked as a music teacher. During this period, he first started creating poetry.
and charged with Anti Soviet Agitation and Propaganda. He was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment and 2 years exile in Siberia
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, where he joined the Ukrainian Helsinki Group
which had formed in 1976. All of the members of the group were arrested, and on October 23, 1979, Horbal was arrested and sentenced to 5 years hard labour.
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from 1990 to 1994.
He has served as a member of Parliament of Ukraine from 1994 till 1998.
In 1986, a collection of his poetry was translated into German, and published in the collection "Here the End is Awaited" (Ukrainian: Тут Чекають Кінця).
In 1992, Horbal was awarded the prestigious Vasyl Stus
Award for poetry.
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
dissident, human right activists, member of parliament of Ukraine, poet, and member of the Ukrainian Helsinki Group
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
Mykola Horbal was born on May 6, 1941, in the village of Volovets in Ukraine. In 1947, his family moved to the village of Letyache.From 1963 to 1970, Horbal worked as a music teacher. During this period, he first started creating poetry.
First Arrest
On November 24, 1970, Horbal was arrested by the KGBKGB
The KGB was the commonly used acronym for the . It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and was the premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.The State Security Agency of the Republic of Belarus currently uses the...
and charged with Anti Soviet Agitation and Propaganda. He was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment and 2 years exile in Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
.
Second Arrest
On release from prison and return to Ukraine, Horbal settled in KievKiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
, where he joined the Ukrainian Helsinki Group
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....
which had formed in 1976. All of the members of the group were arrested, and on October 23, 1979, Horbal was arrested and sentenced to 5 years hard labour.
Third Arrest
In 1984, having completed the 5-year term, Horbal was not released from incarceration, but was immediately sentenced to another term of 8 years of hard labour and 3 years in exile. However, this sentence was terminated in 1988 during the PerestroikaPerestroika
Perestroika was a political movement within the Communist Party of the Soviet Union during 1980s, widely associated with the Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev...
.
Political career
Upon release, Horbal immediately became active in Ukrainian politics. He served as a representative to the Kiev City CouncilKiev City Council
Kiev City Council or Kyivrada is the city council of Kiev municipality, the highest representative body of the city community. The members of city council are directly elected by Kievans and the council is chaired by the Mayor of Kiev .The council meets in a 1950s City Council building...
from 1990 to 1994.
He has served as a member of Parliament of Ukraine from 1994 till 1998.
Publications
Horbal's works were first published outside of Ukraine. The first collection of his work was published in the USA in 1983. His first collection was entitled "Details of a Noisy Alarmclock" (Ukrainian: Деталі Піщаного Годинника), and the second publication was of poetry for children, a collection entitled "A Song for Little Andrew" (Ukrainian: Коломийка Для Андрійка).In 1986, a collection of his poetry was translated into German, and published in the collection "Here the End is Awaited" (Ukrainian: Тут Чекають Кінця).
In 1992, Horbal was awarded the prestigious Vasyl Stus
Vasyl Stus
Vasyl Semenovych Stus was a Ukrainian poet and publicist, one of the most active members of Ukrainian dissident movement. For his political convictions, his works were banned by the Soviet regime and he spent 23 years in detention...
Award for poetry.
State awards
- The Order of LibertyOrder of Liberty (Ukraine)The Order of Liberty is an award of Ukraine. The Order was instituted on April 10, 2008, by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to honour special merits of citizens for strengthening the Sovereignty and Independence of Ukraine, consolidating Ukrainian society, developing Democracy, advancing...
(2009) - The 3rd Class of the Order of MeritOrder of Merit (Ukraine)The Order of Merit first, second or third class, is the Ukrainian award, given to individuals for outstanding achievements in economics, science, culture, military or political spheres of activity...
(2005) - The 1st Class of the Order For CourageOrder For CourageThe Order For Courage is the Ukrainian award, first established by Ukrainian president Leonid Kuchma on August 21, 1996.-Awards of the President of Ukraine For Courage:...
(2006)