July 17, 2020

UCCA commemorates 30th anniversary of Ukraine’s Declaration of Sovereignty

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The New York-based National Office of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America released the statement below on July 16.

 

On July 16, 1990, parliamentarians in Soviet-occupied Ukraine, inspired by the democratic movement Rukh, adopted by an overwhelming vote of 355 for and four against, a far-reaching Declaration on State Sovereignty of Ukraine – a critical and demonstrative step towards the rebirth of Ukraine’s independence.

This year, the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), the largest representation of over 1.5 million Americans of Ukrainian descent, celebrates the 30th anniversary of this historic and long-awaited declaration. In defining the “supremacy, independence, fullness and indivisibility of the republic’s authority within the boundaries of its territory, and its independence and equality in external relations,” Ukrainians for the first time since 1941 declared the political and economic autonomy of an entire nation. With this decision, Ukrainians took the necessary steps towards the creation and recognition of an independent Ukrainian citizenship, an independent army, national bank and currency, which would all eventually be enshrined in an independent Ukrainian Constitution.

The Ukrainian Press Agency reported at the time that up to 10,000 residents of Kyiv celebrated in the streets on the evening of July 16, 1990, gathering in what is today referred to as Maidan Nezalezhnosty (Independence Square – the same location that would be later occupied by the Orange Revolution and the Revolution of Dignity). The large crowd then marched towards the building where in 1917-1918 the Ukrainian Central Council (Rada) had held its meetings; several people gave speeches in memory of the first president of the Ukrainian National Republic, Mykhailo Hrushevsky. There, the journalist and former political prisoner Oles Shevchenko proclaimed that “from today our children will be born in a free country and not in a colony belonging to Moscow.”

While it would take more work and even more activism to bring Ukrainian independence to full realization, the Declaration of Sovereignty of July 16, 1990, would remain an important touchstone in history, as the UCCA referred to it specifically the following year in its statement following the establishment of the ill-fated “Common­wealth of Independent States,” stating:

“While it is still too early to fully comprehend the impact of the December 8 joint Byelorussian-Russian-Ukrainian declaration of the Establishment of a ‘Common­wealth of Independent States,’ it appears to contravene Ukraine’s Declaration of Sovereignty of July 16, 1990, its Declaration of Independence of August 24, 1991, the recently concluded referendum and recent legislation.”

For Ukrainians around the world, the restoration of Ukraine’s Independence was a goal many could only dream of, but which became a reality at the end of the 20th century. UCCA honors the centuries of hard work and determination that led to Ukraine declaring its sovereignty and the sacrifice that it has taken to maintain its freedom since that time.

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