Сircumstances of arrest and exile of Borys Kudryk (based on criminal case from archives the Security Service of Ukraine)

Abstract

When Soviets came to Galicia (1939), music and art activity became to be controlled by the new Soviets authorities. The pressure on the musical elite of Lviv increased when Galicia returned to the USSR in 1944. The purpose of the article is to investigate the circumstances of arrest and exile of famous composer and musicologist Borys Kudryk (1897-1952). Borys Kudryk (1897-1952) - one of the most famous musicians of the XX century in western Ukraine. He was born in priest’s family in Rogatyn, Ivano-Frankivsk region. Kudryk 's various talents were demonstrated in musicological research and critical reviews, composer activity, conducting, performances as a solo pianist and accompanist. Borys Kudryk was lucky enough to learn from the best musicians of his time, which heralded a successful career and recognition in the artistic sphere. But unfortunately, talent and professional success did not save Kudryk from the repressive machine of "bright communist life", which led to an early death and years of oblivion at the end. He was arrested in Vienna (1945) by the counterintelligence Smersh (Death to Spies!).The interrogations began April, 14 1945 and finished in cloused court. Borys Kudryk was accused of cooperating with UNDO organization, anti-Soviets agitations and publications during the nazi-occupation of Lviv. The circumstances of the arrest of Borys Kudryk are described in a criminal case, which was declassified on December 25, 2012 (rehabilitated on March 26, 1993). The methodology of the article is based on using of a combination of different methods, such as musicological, analytical, historical and comparative generalizing. In Ukraine, the study of criminal cases against «Enemies of the Union» became possible when the archives of the Security Service of Ukraine were opened for researchers.