TheSoim (Ukrainian:Сойм Карпатської України) was the parliament of the short-livedRepublic of Carpatho-Ukraine.[1] The assembly had its seat inKhust.[1]
The establishment of aSoim, an autonomous parliament for the Ruthenian region, had been stipulated in the 11th article of the1919 Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye.[2] But the establishment of the autonomous parliament was delayed for many years.[2]
After years of delays, election to theSoim was held on 12 February 1939 on the basis of the passing of legislation by the Czechoslovak parliament providing further autonomy for Carpatho-Ukraine on 22 November 1938.[1] 32 members of theSoim were elected from a single constituency.[1] TheUkrainian National Union [uk] (UNO) presented a unity list for the vote.[1] According to results published, 244,922 out of 265,002 votes cast (92%) went in favour of the unity list.[3]
Out of the 32 members elected there were 29 Ukrainians, 1 Czech, 1 German and 1 Romanian.[1] The German deputy wasAnton Ernst Oldofredi, leader of theGerman People's Council (Deutsche VolksRat, DVR).[1]
The elected candidates were:[4][5]
| Name | Village | Office/Profession | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dr.Avgustyn Voloshyn | Khust | Premier of the Government of Carpatho-Ukraine |
| 2 | Yulian Revay | Khust | Minister of the Government of Carpatho-Ukraine |
| 3 | Dr. Mychailo Briaschayko | Khust | notary public |
| 4 | Dr. Julius Briaschayko | Khust | attorney |
| 5 | Ivan Gryga | Vyshni Verets'ky | farmer |
| 6 | Rev. Adalbert Dovbak | Izky | Priest |
| 7 | Dr. Mykola Dolynay | Khust | Hospital Director of the hospital, Khust |
| 8 | Dr. Milosh Drbal | Khust | attorney |
| 9 | Augustine Dutka | Khust | Judge |
| 10 | Ivan Ihnatko | Bilky | farmer |
| 11 | Dr. Volodymyr Komarynsky | Khust | Head of Press Department |
| 12 | Ivan Kachala | Perechyn | railroad engineer |
| 13 | Vasyl' Klempush | Yasinya | businessman, Yasinya |
| 14 | Stepan Klochurak | Khust | Secretary to the Prime Minister |
| 15 | Vasyl' Latsanych | Velykyy Bereznyy | teacher |
| 16 | Mykola Mandzyuk | Sevlyush | teacher |
| 17 | Mykhaylo Marushchak | Velykyy Bychkiv | farmer |
| 18 | Leonid Romanyuk | Khust | engineer |
| 19 | Rev. Grigorie Moysh | Bila Tserkov | protopop |
| 20 | Dmytro Nimchuk | Khust | President of the Public Health Insurance Institution |
| 21 | Anton Ernst Oldofredi | Khust | Under Secretary of State |
| 22 | Yuriy Pazukhanych | Khust | school inspector |
| 23 | Ivan Perevuznyk | Serednye | farmer |
| 24 | Petro Popovych | Velyki Luchky | farmer |
| 25 | Fedir Revay | Khust | Director of the State Printing House |
| 26 | Dr. Mykola Risdorfer | Svalyava | physician |
| 27 | Dr. Stefan Roscha | Khust | Ministry of Education officia |
| 28 | Rev. Yuriy Stanynets' | Vonihovo | pastor |
| 29 | Vasyl' Shobey | Vul'khivtsi | farmer |
| 30 | Avhustyn Shtefan | Khust | Chief of the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs |
| 31 | Rev. Fedelesh | Khust | Professor of Religion |
| 32 | Mykhaylo Tulyk | Khust | journalist |
TheSoim met once on 15 March 1939.[1][6] The inaugural session had been scheduled for 2 March 1939 but the Czecho-Slovak presidentEmil Hácha opted not to convene the assembly.[7] In response to the Slovak declaration of independence on 14 March 1939, the regional government ofAvgustyn Voloshyn called for an independent Carpatho-Ukrainian state under the protection of theGerman Reich.[6]
Whilst the session was in progress the time Hungarian troops were on the offensive in Carpatho-Ukraine and Czecho-Slovak forces were retreating westward.[8] Augustin Stefan served as the speaker of the assembly.[9] Stefan Roscha served as the vice speaker of the assembly.[10]
The assembly, with 22 members present, declared the independence of the Republic of Carpatho-Ukraine.[1] The session ratified the constitution of the Republic of Carpatho-Ukraine, withUkrainian as the official language and a presidential form of governance.[11] TheSoim elected Voloshyn as President of the Republic.[9][11] Yulian Revay was named Prime Minister.[11]
Khust was attacked by Hungarian forces on the same day as the session was held.[8] Carpatho-Ukraine was annexed byHungary the following day, ending the brief existence of the Republic of Carpatho-Ukraine.[1]
TheSoim session is depicted in the 1940 movieTragedy of Carpatho-Ukraine, produced byVasyl Avramenko.[12]
