This week in history

April 15: 1950. The USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs issued an order that exiled OUN members were to stay in special colonies forever.

1994. Ukraine joined the Treaty on the CIS Economic Union as an associate member.

April 16: 1710. Pylyp Orlyk, author of one of the first constitutions in Europe, was elected Hetman of Ukraine.

1991. The Tenth (first independent) Congress of the Ukrainian Writers Union opened in Kyiv.

April 17: A conference of the Ukrainian Social Democratic Workers’ Party took place in Kyiv, electing Volodymyr Vynnychenko its head.

1924. The All-Ukrainian Central Executive Committee passed a decision On Fighting Child Homelessness.

April 18: 1936. The first exhibition of Soviet Ukrainian architecture took place.

1961. A protest demonstration of believers took place in Kyiv against closing St. Andrew’s church.

April 19: 1917. The All-Ukrainian National Congress proclaimed Ukraine’s national and territorial sovereignty and elected a new Central Rada headed by Mykhailo Hrushevsky.

1979. The Council of Ministers of USSR passed a resolution On Founding Zaporizhzhia State University.

April 20: 1978. Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine ratified a new Constitution of Ukrainian SSR.

1990. The founding conference of the Children of Chornobyl Ukrainian Republic Association took place.

April 21: 1775. Russian Empress Catherine II legalized serfdom in Ukraine.

1937. The Central Executive Committee of Ukrainian SSR adopted a decision On the State Emblem of Ukrainian SSR.