Mihail Gorin

Mihail Gorin

Ukrainian politician, Soviet dissident, psychologist.
Date of Birth: 17.06.1930
Country: Ukraine

Content:
  1. Childhood and Education
  2. Dissident Activity
  3. Political Engagement
  4. Leadership in the NRU and URP
  5. Division Within the Ukrainian Republican Party
  6. Later Political Career
  7. Other Activities

Childhood and Education

Mykhailo Horyn was born on June 17, 1930, in Knyselo, Poland (now Ukraine). His father's involvement with the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists led to his family's deportation to Siberia in 1944. However, they escaped and returned to Western Ukraine.

Horyn enrolled in Lviv State University in 1949, studying until 1955 with a brief suspension in 1953 for his refusal to join the Komsomol.

Dissident Activity

In 1963, Horyn co-founded the "Snowdrop" underground dissident group. For his involvement, he was sentenced to six years in prison in 1965 for "anti-Soviet agitation and propaganda."

After his release in 1971, Horyn struggled to find employment, working as a stoker and a painter. In 1976, he played a key role in establishing the Ukrainian Helsinki Group (UHG).

Political Engagement

Following his second arrest in 1981 and a 10-year prison sentence, Horyn was amnestied in 1987 and returned to Ukraine. In 1989, he co-founded the People's Movement of Ukraine (NRU), the first opposition party to the Communist Party.

Leadership in the NRU and URP

Horyn was elected to the Ukrainian parliament in 1990 and served as the NRU's secretary. In 1992, he became its co-chairman and also joined the Ukrainian Republican Party (URP).

Division Within the Ukrainian Republican Party

However, tensions within the NRU led to its split from the URP. As a result, Horyn resigned from the NRU and was elected head of the URP in 1992. He held this position until 1995.

Later Political Career

In 1997, Horyn and his supporters were expelled from the URP. They founded the Republican Christian Party, with Horyn serving as its head of the editorial commission.

Other Activities

Horyn served as the chairman of the Ukrainian World Coordinating Council from 2000 to 2006.

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