THE SIXTIERS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE UKRAINIAN OPPOSITION MOVEMENT OF THE 1960S – 1980S

Abstract

In the introduction to the interview with Yulii Tanchuk, Yurii Zaitsev describes the use of interviews with direct participants in historical events as an effective tool for studying the Sixtiers movement (shistdesiatnytstvo) and contemporary socio-political processes in Ukraine. He highlights the foundations and evolution of the Sixtiers movement and characterizes its attributive features, emphasizing examples from different parts of Ukraine. The main attention is paid to the study of the role of a nationally conscious personality among the Sixtiers and in a broader sense – in the opposition, anti-regime movement through the prism of the chemists Yulii Tanchuk's activities. The interview with him shows the significance of the samvydav ("self-publishing") phenomenon for expanding awareness of the need for radical, revolutionary changes in the socio-political system for state independence of Ukraine, the democratization of society, and the formation of a civilized European community. By the annual unauthorized commemorations of Taras Shevchenko on the anniversaries of his reburial in Ukraine (May 22, 1861), the national genius's greatness was emphasized, and his spiritual consonance with the free-thinking of the 1960s – 1980s. The interview reflects the revival of cultural life and military training of young men in the Western Ukrainian villages during World War II, and gives examples of youth joining the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UIA), recreates the ritual of taking the oath by UIA recruits. Furthermore, it mentions Vasyl Stus's story about the Holodomor in Ukraine in 1932–1933, makes public the facts of the Communist regime's punishment of the signatories of the "Letter 139" to the USSR leaders in April 1968, emphasizes Yulii Tanchuk's unadvertised contacts with an active member of the Ukrainian human rights movement Oles Shevchenko, clarifies the role of Leonid Seleznenko in the opposition movement, and after the arrest – his incriminating evidence under pressure from the KGB at the trial of Vasyl Stus and his letter of repentance. The role of Oles Honchar's novel "The Cathedral", Ivan Dziuba's research "Internationalism or Russification?", and Olena Apanovych's historical lectures for the activation of political and national self-awareness of Ukrainians are indicated. Keywords: Luh Society, Holodomor, UIA, the Sixtiers, samvydav, dissident movement, Yulii Tanchuk, Vasyl Stus, Oles Shevchenko, Henrikh Dvorko, Leonid Seleznenko, May 22, "scientific exile", KGB, Central Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine.