The Ukrainian political prisoner who spent 25 years in Soviet labor camps has died.

At the age of 97, Ivan Myron, one of the political prisoners from Transcarpathia who spent 25 years in Soviet labor camps, has passed away. This was reported by the head of the Transcarpathian OVA, Myroslav Biletsky.

«His life is an example of struggle and dignity, loyalty to the truth and to Ukraine. He endured the harshest trials of fate and remained steadfast in his faith, ideas, and convictions», emphasized the official.

Ivan Myron was a member of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists. In 1950, he refused to serve in the Soviet military, which had already added Transcarpathia to Soviet Ukraine. Instead, he joined the underground army of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. However, he was betrayed, and through a denunciation report, he was captured by the Soviet secret service, which led to his arrest. After the trial, he was sentenced to 25 years in camp.

«In 1950, I received a draft order for the army. I could not pledge allegiance to a government that brought so much suffering to my family and all of Ukraine, so I contacted Mykhailinyuk (...) and went underground. I constantly met with activists of the OUN and UPA and fulfilled their tasks. In April 1951, I disarmed a guard in our local government and took three rifles with ammunition from him. A month later, our group of 18 was arrested - «the traitor did that»,» Ivan Myron recalled in the documentary «On the Path of Love».

In an interview with The Ukrainians magazine, he noted that the entire group of 18 was convicted. Six, including teacher Andrij Skrypka, were teachers. The rest were those who helped the insurgents or avoided denunciation. There was even an article 'for non-denunciation'. He was 21 years old when it was decided about him - «for treason against the homeland and participation in counter-revolutionary activities» for 25 years.

He served his sentence in the camp in Norilsk, among others, also in Mordovia. Ivan Myron was released only in 1976.

In 1993, the Transcarpathian court declared Ivan Myron unjustly convicted in the Soviet Union. In 1995, the Supreme Court of Ukraine reviewed his case, canceled the political articles, but maintained the conviction «for refusing military service».

In 2019, he was rehabilitated and recognized as the first victim of the repressions of the communist regime who was rehabilitated under the law of Ukraine.

We remind that on March 7, a presentation of a virtual museum of the commander of the UPA Roman Shukhevych took place at the Lviv Historical Museum.