Foreign Consuls in the Ukrainian SSR (1919-1922)

Abstract

The article describes the basic forms and problems of foreign consuls’ activities in Kyiv and «Soviet capital» Kharkiv in February 1919 – December 1922. We surveyed historiography (works by Hisem O.V., Kiladze S., Kupchyk O.V., Danylenko O.V., Netreba Y.B., Sokyrska V.V. etc.) and a wide range of sources concerning activities of foreign missions in Ukraine. The main forms and methods of foreign consulates’ activities in the Ukrainian SSR were surveyed, peculiarities of their functioning were outlined, personnel of the consular institutions and a role of their management in formation of consular relations with the Ukrainian SSR and an influence on building its foreign relations were determined. We characterized the personalities of the foreign consuls who represented Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Persia and other countries in Soviet Ukraine (Dubynskyi V., Mir-Tagiev J., Tsahareli K., Shumun Bit etc.). Indicated on the nationalization of foreign consulates’ buildings by the Soviet authorities. Nature of the activities of Chinese mission, mission of Assyrian National Delegation in the RSFSR and «a Brazilian consul earl Alberto Pirro» was also highlighted. On the basis of archival information we investigated features of the interaction of the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Affairs of the USSR to the foreign missions and actions of the USSR General Political Governance corcerning registration of foreigners. It has been shown that the foreign missions used the services of the Bureau for Foreign Missions Services concerning providing people with food provision and dwelling. We found differences in the organization of the consular corps in the era of the Ukrainian State and the Ukrainian People’s Republic and the Soviet regime. Regulations on the status of foreign nationals in the Ukrainian SSR were considered, and the role of the foreign consuls in ensuring contacts of the citizens of their states with the Soviet authorities was highlighted. It was proved that foreign consuls in the Ukrainian SSR were victims of repressive bodies.