Svitozar Drahomanov. The Struggle to Clear His Father’s Name… Under the Close Surveillance of the nkvd

On the eve of the 185th anniversary of the birth of the distinguished Ukrainian historian, publicist, literary scholar, folklorist, philosopher, and social activist Mykhailo Drahomanov (September 18, 1841 – July 2, 1895) a number of documents have been identified and studied in the archives of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine. They shed light on some little-known chapters in the history of the Drahomanov-Kosach family. In particular, based on declassified documents, the dramatic fate of Svitozar Drahomanov can be traced; throughout his life, he was dedicated to popularizing his father’s scientific and literary legacy, defending his father’s good name against the oppression and distortions perpetrated by representatives of the soviet power, and searching for his father’s archives to return them to Ukraine.

In the spring of 1935, operative of the special department of the nkvd of the Ukrainian ssr for Kyiv region bondarenko received several reports from his undercover agents, who reported similar things. One of them reported that he had run into an old friend from his student days, Svitozar Mykhailovych Drahomanov, on the street. Drahomanov was very agitated and worried about the arrests of his acquaintances, particularly Mykola Zerov, with whom he had a good relationship. He lamented that he, too, might be arrested.

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