Mykola Plaviuk

Mykola Vasyliovych Plaviuk (Ukrainian: Микола Васильович Плав'юк; June 5, 1925 – March 10, 2012) was a Ukrainian social and political activist in emigration, who served as the last President of the Ukrainian People's Republic in exile. He terminated his authority on August 22, 1992, when he formally ceded his authority to the first President of independent Ukraine, Leonid Kravchuk.

Mykola Plaviuk Микола Плав'юк
4th President of the Ukrainian People's Republic in exile
In office December 8, 1989 – August 22, 1992
Preceded by	Mykola Livytskyi
Succeeded by	Leonid Kravchuk (domiciled)^1
President of the UWC
In office 1978–1981
Preceded by	Vasyl Kushnir
Succeeded by	Ivan Bazarko
Leader of the OUN
In office 1981–2012
Preceded by	D. Kvitkovskyi
Personal details
Born	June 5, 1925 Rusiv, Poland (now Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast in Ukraine)
Died	March 10, 2012 (aged 86) Hamilton, Ontario
Nationality	Ukrainian
Political party	OUN
Alma mater	University of Munich Concordia University
^1Plaviuk terminated his authority as President of the Ukrainian People's Republic on August 22, 1992 when he formally ceded his authority to the first President of Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk.

Biography

Mykola Plaviuk was born on June 5, 1925 in the village of Rusiv in Poland (now part of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast in independent Ukraine).[1] During World War II, Mykola became active in the Plast scouting movement in western Ukraine, which provided training after which many youth subsequently joined the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists.[2][3] After the war, he fled to Germany[4] where he received a diploma from the University of Munich in economics.[1] He emigrated to Montreal in Canada in 1949 where he became an active member of the Ukrainian diaspora in Canada.[1] In 1954 he graduated from Concordia University.[1]

Prior to the proclamation of an independent Ukrainian state in 1991, parallel to his professional career, Mykola Plaviuk held prominent positions in Ukrainian diaspora community/political institutions: President of the Ukrainian National Federation of Canada (1956–66); Vice-President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (1966–71); senior Plast Ukrainian scout leader; initiator and chief organizer responsible for the establishment in 1967 of the World Congress of Free Ukrainians (WCFU) in New York; Secretary General of the WCFU (1973–76); 1st Vice-President of the WCFU (1976–78); President of the WCFU (1978–80); elected Leader of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists in 1979; in June 1988 elected Vice-President of the Ukrainian National Republic (UNR) in Exile.

After death of incumbent President Mykola Livytskyi, Plaviuk became his successor,[4] serving from December 8, 1989 to 1992. During a ceremonious session of the Verkhovna Rada on August 22, 1992 in Kyiv, Mykola Plaviuk formally ceded his authority and the activity of the UNR to the first President of independent Ukraine, Leonid Kravchuk, who was elected in 1991.[5][6] In his declaration, Plaviuk proclaimed that the current Ukrainian state is the lawful successor to the Ukrainian People's Republic and a continuation of its authority and state traditions.[5][7]

For his achievements in Ukrainian community and political affairs in the diaspora, Mykola Plaviuk was awarded the St. Volodymyr the Great Medal by the Ukrainian World Congress, and the Taras Shevchenko Medal by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. In 1993, via extraordinary decree by President of Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk, Mykola Plaviuk was made a citizen of Ukraine. In 1996, by presidential decree Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma conferred upon Mykola Plaviuk the State Order of Merit, 3rd Class "…for his personal contribution to the development of Ukrainian statehood, and his active community and humanitarian involvement…."

In 2007, through presidential decree President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko conferred upon Mykola Plaviuk The Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 1st Class for his contributions as a “…public and political leader, President of the UNR in exile 1988-1992, for his selfless service to the Ukrainian people, and distinguished personal achievements in the revival of Ukraine’s independence."

Mykola Plaviuk was the leader of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists from 1981 until his death.[1] He was married, and had two sons and two daughters.[5] Plaviuk lived in both Kyiv and Canada. He died on March 10, 2012 in Hamilton, Ontario.[1][4]

See also

• List of national leaders of Ukraine

References

1. (in Ukrainian) Помер останній Президент УНР у екзилі Микола Плав'юк, Den (10 March 2012)
2. Verbych, Viktor. "Last President" (in Ukrainian). Gazeta "Simya i dim". Archived from the original on 2011-07-23. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
3. Dukh, Yarema (2008-04-09). Микола Плав'юк: "Май амбіцію не бути пересічним...". Plast (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 2011-07-23. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
4. (in Ukrainian) Помер останній президент УНР (фото), UNIAN (12 March 2012)
5. "Plaw'iuk Mykola Vasyl'ovych". VIP-gallery (in Ukrainian). presscenter.ukrinform.ua. Archived from the original on 2007-10-24. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
6. "10 years since the Government center of the UNR in exile gave to the free and sovereign Ukraine the symbols of government authority. This establishes that Ukraine is the legal successor to the Ukrainian National Republic. This action was proclaimed by the former President of the UNR in exile Mykola Plaviuk". Visnyka UVKR (in Ukrainian). Ukrainian World Coordination Council. Archived from the original on 2011-07-27. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
7. Rol, Mykhailo. "Tenth President" (in Ukrainian). Ukrayina Moloda. Retrieved 2008-12-30.

External links

• "Leader of Ukrainian Nationalists Organization Mykola Plawiuk" (in Ukrainian). www.mplawiuk.kiev.ua. 2000. Archived from the original (archived version) on 2004-12-04. Retrieved 2008-12-30.