ON THE WAY TO CREATE A “SELSOJUZ”: CONSOLIDATION OF THE UKRAINIAN POLITICS OF THE VOLHYNIA REGION, KHOLM AND PODLASIE REGIONS (1922–1924)

Abstract

The main phase of activity of Ukrainian leaders of Kholm and Podlasie, Volhynia regions are analyzed. The socioeconomic circumstances and political context that influenced the life of the Ukrainian community in the outlined regions, and thus their political activity, are highlighted. The basic steps of self-organization of the Ukrainian intelligentsia. There are tried to solve the needful needs of local Ukrainians in the first years after the First World War: the creation of economic and cultural-educational centers, the gradual transition to political activity. It is shown, that one of the first such steps in the political sphere was the signing of the so-called “Memorial of the Orthodox population of Kholm regon” by Ukrainian activists. The Ukrainian delegation sent to Warsaw a request for establishment of the Ukrainian committee, that represented to the authorities issue of the educational, cultural and religious sphere of the Ukrainians, and possibility of foundation The Ukrainian charitable society. It is noted that elections to the Polish Sejm and Parliament in November 1922 was a turning point for Ukrainian leaders in this area. Intensifying their efforts, the intelligentsia created the Kholm and Volhynia election committees, which later merged into one structure – the Ukrainian Central Election Committee (UCEC). The Ukrainian Central Election Committee, as an independent organization, together with the representations of other national minorities, formed a single election platform, the Bloc of National Minorities (BNM). The elections of 1922 were successful for the politicians of Volhynia, Kholm and Podlasie and became the first experience of parliamentary activity in the newly formed Polish state are concluded.