This week in history 

April 20. 1949.  The First World Congress of Advocates of Peace was opened, which launched the international peace movement. 1993.   Kyiv hosted the First Hnat Khotkevych International Contest of Bandura Players. April 21. 1775.   Russian Empress Catherine II enserfed millions of Ukrainian peasants. April 22. International Earth Day.  1922.   A Ukrainian Economics Academy was opened at Podebrady, Czechoslovakia. 1931.   The Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR passed a resolution on Soviet citizenship. April 23. 1959.   The Union of Journalists of Ukraine was formed at the First Congress of Ukrainian Journalists. 1991.   Verkhovna Rada of the Ukrainian SSR passed a law on the freedom of worship and religious organizations. April 24. 1919.   The Council of People's Commissars of the Ukrainian SSR passed a decree on the nationalization of all private secondary and higher educational institutions. 1949.   The Taras Shevchenko State Literary and Art Museum was opened in Kyiv. April 25. 1945.   Soviet troops completed the encirclement of Berlin.1994.   The President of Ukraine decreed the establishment the National Television and Radio Council. April 26. Day of the Chornobyl Catastrophe. 1840. The first edition of Kobzar by the great Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko was published.