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Bogdan GorunUkrainian politician
Date of Birth: 10.02.1936
Country:  Ukraine |
Content:
Early Life and Activism
Born on February 10, 1936, in Knyselo, Poland (present-day Ukraine), Bohdan Horyn's father was an activist for the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN). His family was deported to Siberia in 1944, but they escaped and returned to Western Ukraine.
In 1954, Horyn enrolled in the philological faculty of Lviv State University, graduating in 1959. He taught at Secondary School No. 7 in Lviv and later worked as a researcher at the Lviv Museum of Ukrainian Art.
In 1963, Horyn co-founded the dissident group "Snowdrop" with his brother, Mykhailo, and others. He was arrested and sentenced to three years in prison in 1965 for "anti-Soviet agitation and propaganda."
Post-Prison Life and Career
After his release in 1968, Horyn struggled to find employment, working odd jobs as a fireman and painter. In 1976, he became a senior researcher at the Lviv Picture Gallery. He maintained close ties with the Ukrainian Helsinki Group, but avoided further imprisonment.
In 1987, Horyn joined the Ukrainian Helsinki Union, a precursor to the first Ukrainian opposition party against Soviet rule. He also worked for the journal "Ukrainian Herald" founded by Vyacheslav Chornovil.
Political Career
In 1989, Horyn became a researcher at the Lviv Historical Museum. He actively participated in the formation of the People's Movement of Ukraine (Rukh) but later left the party to join the newly established Ukrainian Republican Party (URP).
In 1990, Horyn was elected to the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, with a commanding majority. He held his seat despite his brother's defeat in the 1994 elections.
Conflict with URP and Later Life
In 1997, Mykhailo Horyn clashed with the URP leadership and was expelled along with his supporters, including Bohdan. They established the Republican Christian Party, with Bohdan becoming a member of the central board.
After the end of his parliamentary term in 1998, Bohdan Horyn retired from politics and focused on academic pursuits. He passed away (date not provided).
