1.12.2009.World Congress of Subcarpathian Ruthenians supports the resolution of scientific-practical conference “The First Congress of the People's Committees from 26th of November, 1944, Mukachevo, (and in its "Manifest") as a legal justification of the annexation of Subcarpathian Ruthenia“, which was held in Uzhgorod on November 26, 2009.
World Congress of Subcarpathian Ruthenians supports the condemnation of the Munich agreement, the collapse of Czechoslovakia, the occupation of Subcarpathian Ruthenia, illegal forceful "proclamations" that occurred in the autonomous territory of the Subcarpathian Ruthenia in time of war, from March 14-15, 1939, and to the “Agreement" from June 29, 1945. Therefore, the decision of the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic from January 21, 1946, was originally recognized as invalid, and devoid of any legal justification.

World Congress of Subcarpathian Ruthenians confirms that political Ruthenian nation was formed in Europe in pre-Soviet times, and was internationally recognized before its forcible annexation by the Soviet Union on November 26, 1944.

We hope that all the Ruthenian organizations in Europe and in the world will support this position.
On behalf of the World Congress of Subcarpathian Ruthenians, we appeal for public support of this position by all Ruthenian organizations in order to restore historical justice for the Ruthenian nation.

26.11.2009. Resolution of the scientific-practical conference "The First Congress of the People's Committees from 26th of November, 1944, Mukachevo, (and in its "Manifest") as a legal justification of the annexation of Subcarpathian Ruthenia"

Organizers of the conference: Cyril and Methodius Society of Transcarpathia, [Soym] of the Subcarpathian Ruthenia, National Council of the Ruthenians of Transcarpathia, the People's Council of the Subcarpathian Ruthenia.
Uzhgorod, November 26, 2009

Beginning: 12.00 Location: Hall of the Hotel "Visit"
Languages of the conference: Ukrainian, Russian, Ruthenian, and Slovak

After hearing the reports, the participants of the conference stated that the Decision of the First Congress of the People's Committees from November 26, 1944 in Mukachevo could not be considered legitimate in terms of free expression of the will of the people.
The resolution of the conference was based on the following:

1. The anti-Hitler coalition denounced and invalidated Munich Agreement and the decisions of the Vienna arbitration with subsequent occupation of Subcarpathian Ruthenia by Hungary in the periods from the fifth to the 10th of November 1938 and from 14th to 16th of March 1939.

2. Soviet Union, after entering into the war with Germany, was the first of the anti-Hitler coalition states, which on July 10, 1941, acknowledged the Czechoslovak government that was in exile in London, and concluded a military cooperation agreement, providing for the restoration of Czechoslovakia in its pre-Munich status.
Proclamation of independence of the Subcarpathian Ruthenia by Augustin Voloshin in March 1939, was illegal and illegitimate in the first place.

3. At the end of 1942 the United Kingdom, in turn, withdrew its signature from the Munich Agreement, and accepted restoration of the post-war Czechoslovakia in its pre-Munich frontiers. This meant that Great Britain recognized the legal continuity of the Czechoslovak Republic consisting of the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Subcarpathian Ruthenia, and its right to regain the federal status.

4. Just five days before the First Congress of People's Committees (November 21, 1944), Fourth Political Department of the First Ukrainian Front, [NKVD, MVD, SMERSH] formed the Communist Party of the Transcarpathian Ukraine for the sole purpose - the organization of the process of secession of the Subcarpathian Ruthenia from the Czechoslovak Republic and its accession to the USSR in the format of "reunification with the mother Ukraine."

5. In order to "justify" the impending annexation, the constitutional denotation of the territory of the Ruthenians, denomination "Subcarpathian Ruthenia" had been replaced by non-historical "Transcarpathian Ukraine".

6. Thousands (and then tens of thousands) of protesting Ruthenian intellectuals were convicted and sent to Soviet concentration camps for re-education "from Ruthenians to Ukrainians“. Today, the ruling regime of Ukraine recommended to all "democratic Ukrainians" keep silent about the facts of fascism and Stalinism that violated the rights of the Ruthenians”
Therefore, the SSU is in no hurry to open archives, and it is advised not to criticize Stalin for his repressions against the Ruthenian nation.
Ukrainian mass media, controlled by the regime, have shown a unique obedience to this "advice".
7. In fact, the fate of the Subcarpathian Ruthenia in 1945 was sealed by the exchange of letters between Joseph Stalin and E. Benes. Legal implementation of their plans regarding the fate of the Subcarpathian Ruthenia was postponed until the end of the war. An "Agreement" between the USSR and Czechoslovakia of accession of the Subcarpathian Ruthenia to the USSR was signed in Moscow, a month after the war in June 29, 1945.

8. If the Soviet Union in 1941, the United Kingdom in 1942, and later Europe recognized the right to restore the pre-Munich Czechoslovakia, then Moscow and Kiev are also aware that part of Czechoslovakia - Republic of Subcarpathian Ruthenia, had the constitutional status of autonomy. In addition, it meant that only its legal representatives, authorized to do so delegates could sign any, including international agreements regarding the future status of the "territory of the Ruthenians to the south of the Carpathians".

9. To Stalin, "Manifest" from November 26, 1944, as well as illegal Fierlinger-Molotov Agreement from June 29, 1945, "On the Transcarpathian Ukraine", were in fact only "legal" reasons for outright annexation of the Subcarpathian Ruthenia. Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of January 21, in violation of international law, unilaterally deprived Subcarpathian Ruthenia its status of a subject of international law
to make it an ordinary region of Ukrainian SSR.

10. The collapse of the USSR and afterwards Czechoslovakia, who signed the illegal Agreement on June 29, 1945, and subsequently ceased to exist, automatically led to the restoration of the pre-Soviet autonomous status of the Republic of Subcarpathian Ruthenia.

11. A number of illegal and illegitimate decisions and declarations from March 1939 to January 1946, regarding the "territory of the Ruthenians to the south of the Carpathians", gave Subcarpathian Ruthenians all the legal justification for the referendum, concerning the post-Soviet arrangement, and restoration of the pre-Soviet (pre-Munich, from November 22, 1938) autonomous status of the Republic of Subcarpathian Ruthenia. The referendum was held on December 1, 1991.

12. The results of the referendum of December 1, 1991, were recognized by Transcarpathian Regional Council, an authority that carried them out, as lawful and legitimate. Since their publication in the official press, they acquired the force of the Law
in Ukraine. In fact, this decision declared the format of restoration of the pre-Soviet status of the Republic of Subcarpathian Ruthenia in the newly established Ukraine (by 92,5% of voters).

13. On November 26, 1992, in Mukachevo, in the same cinema "Pobeda", where took place the First Congress of People's Committees, was held the Second Congress of the People’s Committees with the participation of all regional, district and rural MPs. Following appeal of Uzhgorod City Council from November 25, 1992, deputies confirmed that the decision of the First Congress, in fact, was directed by L. Brezhnev and L. Mehlis.

14. On May 1993, seeing the inaction of the Ukrainian authorities and their blatant disregard for human rights and freedoms of the Ruthenian nation, Transcarpathian Regional Council passed a resolution demanding the President and the Parliament of Ukraine to provide Transcarpathian region with the status of the Autonomous Republic, according to the results of the referendum of 1991.

15. It has been already 18 years that Ukrainian authorities flagrantly ignored the will of our people, expressed in the referendum of December 1, 1991, the results of which acquired the force of law in Ukraine, and continued to carry out extreme forms of discrimination, forced assimilation, ethnocide, threats of deportation and genocide against the Ruthenian nation.

16. The European Parliament, the United States, Russia and the international community has already been notified about the plans of Ukrainian authorities to destroy the Ruthenian nation on its land by any means, so that on the one hand, they’d conceal nearly 18 years of crimes against our people, and, on the other hand, provoke ethnic hatred and ethnic cleansing by hands of the Galician Nazis.

The delegates agreed on the following:

1. Ruthenian political nation, which has the right to self-determination, formed outside of Ukraine in the pre-Soviet times, and acquired international recognition before the annexation to the USSR in November 26, 1944.

2. Given the legal decision of the leaders of the anti-Hitler coalition to condemn the Munich Agreement, the collapse of Czechoslovakia, the occupation of Subcarpathian Ruthenia, illegal forceful "proclamations" that occurred in the autonomous territory of the Subcarpathian Ruthenia in time of war, from March 14-15, 1939, and to the “Agreement" from June 29, 1945, the decision of the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic from January 21, 1946, was originally recognized as invalid, and devoid of legal justification.

3. These illegal and illegitimate actions, decisions and declarations gave the Ruthenian nation the right lawfully hold a referendum-plebiscite on the future of the Autonomous Republic of Subcarpathian Ruthenia on December 1, 1991. Its autonomous status was renewed with the collapse of the Soviet Union and was convincingly confirmed by the results of the referendum.

4. The referendum-plebiscite of December 1, 1991, was successful, and its results were announced in the press. It acquired the force of Law, which the Ukrainian authorities violated for 18 years now, ignoring the political will of the Ruthenian nation, committing crimes, which under international law can be equated to war crimes.

5. Only Ruthenian political nation, which today represent the Ruthenian international, regional, municipal, district and rural organizations, can make decisions about the future of the Autonomous Republic of Subcarpathian Ruthenia.

6. The decisions of the Second National European Congress of the Subcarpathian Ruthenians were undoubtedly correct, although it was a necessary measure.

7. Ruthenian organizations determine the future destiny of the Republic of Subcarpathian Ruthenia (now Transcarpathian region of Ukraine), in accordance with international law and in accordance with its people’s right to self-determination.

8. The resolution of the conference is to be sent to the EU, U.S., Russia and the press. Ruthenian organizations recommend its adoption as legal.

Conference Chairman: Archpriest Dymytriy Sydor

Secretary: Bogdan Lakatos

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