OBITUARY: Mykola Rudenko, writer and human rights activist, 83 (04/11/04)

OBITUARY: Mykola Rudenko, writer and human rights activist, 83

PARSIPPANY, N.J. - Mykola Rudenko, prolific Ukrainian writer, member of the Ukrainian Helsinki Group and former Soviet political prisoner, died in Kyiv on April 1 at the age of 83.

Mr. Rudenko was born in the village of Yuriivka, Luhansk region of Ukraine, on December 19, 1920. He was only 6 years old when his father died at work in a mine. He began writing poetry as a boy and at age 15 won a republic-wide poetry contest in Ukraine. After completing high school he entered Kyiv State University, but was soon drafted into the Soviet army. He was seriously wounded in battle during World War II, when a bullet entered his spine.

Following the war he resumed his creative work. Soon thereafter his first collection of poetry was published. He became editor of the Kyiv-based journal Dnipro and secretary of the Kyiv chapter of the Ukrainian Writers' Union. He was also a leading member of the Communist Party organization within the Writers' Union.

Ten collections of Mr. Rudenko's poetry, as well as several prose works were published between 1947 and the early 1970s. He also wrote science fiction works. His works evolved from socialist realism to writings that were increasingly contrary to Soviet ideology.

In the early 1970s Mr. Rudenko became involved in the human rights movement in the USSR. As a result, his literary works were no longer published. Soviet authorities deprived him of the means to earn a living as a writer, and he was forced to find employment as a night watchman in a factory. Nonetheless, he continued his activity in defense of human and national rights.

Mr. Rudenko became active in Amnesty International. This led to his ouster from the Communist Party (1974), as well as the official Writers' Union (1975). Undeterred, he became a founding member on November 9, 1976, of the Ukrainian Public Group to Promote Implementation of the Helsinki Accords, known as the Ukrainian Helsinki Group, and became its chairman.

Sentenced for "anti-Soviet" activity

In February 1977 Mr. Rudenko was arrested on charges of "anti-Soviet agitation and propaganda" and in July was sentenced to the most severe term: seven years of imprisonment and five years of internal exile. He was sent to the notorious Perm labor camp 36-1 in the Mordovian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, known as a death camp for dissidents, and served his exile in the Altai region of Soviet Central Asia.

During that period 10 of his works were smuggled to the West. Among them were the narrative poem "Khrest" (The Cross," 1977), the book "Ekonomichni Monolohy" (Economic Monologues, 1978), the poetry collection "Za Gratamy" (Behind Bars, 1980), the play "Na Dni Morskomu" (On the Sea Floor, 1981), and the novel "Orlova Balka" (The Eagle's Ravine, 1982).

In 1981 his wife, Raisa, also was sentenced for her human rights activity, specifically the "dissemination of anti-Soviet materials," to a term of five years' imprisonment in a labor camp for women and five years' exile beyond the borders of Ukraine.

Emigrated to the West

In 1987, following pressure from the democratic forces in the West, the Rudenkos were allowed to emigrate from the Soviet Union. They arrived in West Germany in December, where they received medical treatment, and later moved to the United States, where they immediately became active in the Ukrainian community. Mr. Rudenko was for many years a regular contributor to the Ukrainian-language daily Svoboda, and his wife joined the editorial staff. He was active also with the External Representation of the Ukrainian Helsinki Group.

Returned to Ukraine

In 1990 Mr. Rudenko returned to Ukraine, where continued his literary activity. On the occasion of the UNA's 100th anniversary in 1994 Mr. Rudenko was commissioned to write the lyrics to "Jubilee Cantata" by Ukrainian composer Ivan Karabyts. The work's premiere was on February 19, 1994, at Carnegie Hall.

Upon her retirement several years later, Mrs. Rudenko joined her husband in Kyiv. Ailing and his vision failing, Mr. Rudenko continued to write with the assistance of his devoted wife.

Mr. Rudenko's colleagues at the Svoboda wrote that "his name will be forever written into the new history of Ukraine, in the spiritual Ukrainian culture. We thank fate for allowing him to be with us and for leaving us a legacy of undying love for the truth."

Memorial donations to benefit the Museum of the Shestydesiatnyky (the generation of writers of the 1960s) in Kyiv may be sent to: Twentieth Century Human Rights (formerly known as the External Representation of the Ukrainian Helsinki Group), 29 Sanford Terrace, Irvington, NJ 07111.

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