Internal and External Factors of Self-reliance and Activation of the Activity of the “Rusyn Obroda” in Slovakia in the First Half of the 1990s

Abstract

The article highlights the peculiarities and prerequisites of the development of Ruthenism in the territories of historical Transcarpathia and Eastern Slovakia. In particular, it is noted that the idea of the separateness of the autochthonous population of historical Transcarpathia, put forward at the end of the 19th century, until the end of the Second World War was completely acceptable to Russia, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and the Independent Slovak State (1939-1944). However, since the annexation of the modern Transcarpathian region to the USSR and the creation of the so-called socialist camp, to which a part of the territory of historical Transcarpathia was transferred, the concept of a separate “Rusyn” ethnic group lost its geopolitical expediency and did not develop. However, already at the end of the 1980s, certain forces of the USSR - Russia, Hungary, Czechoslovakia made maximum efforts to form a Ruthenian movement on the territory of historical Transcarpathia, whose ideologist was P.-R. Magochi.

On the basis of the documents of the organization “World Congress of Rusyns”, foreign press (in particular, represented by diaspora in Slovakia), the author highlights the organization, realization, and basic problems, which were in the focus of the discussion among delegates, participants, and guests of the First world congress of Rusyns, held on the 23th-24^th of September, 1991 in Medzhylabortsi. The speech of Vasyl Turka, the Head of the Rusyn Obroda has been mentioned. It has been pointed to the national self-identification, which is different in different regions of Europe; to the language of Rusyns (the grammar of which should be created and introduced into schools); to the problems of the Rusyn national and professional culture; to the possibilities of establishing the economic connections among regions where the Rusyns live; to the “Novynky” (both – regional and interregional), which would announce the news about Rusyn national life. Highlights the questions, which were the topics of the discussion.

The author represents the preconditions of the Rusyn movement in Slovakia before the First world congress. The characteristic of the World congress of Rusyns is given on the basis of its Statut. In the end mentioned in brief the international scientific seminar «Traditions of regional cultures of Rusyns / Ukrainians in Carpathians and diaspora», held at the beginning of March, 1991.