The ''Soim'' ( uk, Сойм Карпатської України) was the parliament of the short-lived
Republic of Carpatho-Ukraine.
The assembly had its seat in
Khust
Khust ( uk, Хуст; hu, Huszt) is a city located on the Khustets River in Zakarpattia Oblast (Oblast, province) in western Ukraine. It is near the сonfluence of the Tisza, Tisa and Rika (river), Rika Rivers. Serving as the Capital city, admini ...
.
Background
The establishment of a ''Soim'', an autonomous parliament for the Ruthenian region, had been stipulated in the 11th article of the
1919 Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye.
But the establishment of the autonomous parliament was delayed for many years.
Election
After years of delays, election to the ''Soim'' 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.
32 members of the ''Soim'' were elected from a single constituency.
The Ukrainian National Union (UNO) presented a unity list for the vote.
According to results published, 244,922 out of 265,002 votes cast (92%) went in favour of the unity list.
Out of the 32 members elected there were 29 Ukrainians, 1 Czech, 1 German and 1 Romanian.
The German deputy was
Anton Ernst Oldofredi, leader of the
German People's Council (Deutsche VolksRat, DVR).
The elected candidates were
Session
The ''Soim'' met once on 15 March 1939.
The inaugural session had been scheduled for 2 March 1939 but the Czecho-Slovak president
Emil Hácha
Emil Dominik Josef Hácha (12 July 1872 – 27 June 1945) was a Czech lawyer, the president of Czechoslovakia from November 1938 to March 1939. In March 1939, after the breakup of Czechoslovakia, Hácha was the nominal president of the newly pr ...
opted not to convene the assembly.
In response to the Slovak declaration of independence on 14 March 1939, the regional government of
Avgustyn Voloshyn called for an independent Carpatho-Ukrainian state under the protection of the
German Reich
German ''Reich'' (lit. German Realm, German Empire, from german: Deutsches Reich, ) was the constitutional name for the German nation state that existed from 1871 to 1945. The ''Reich'' became understood as deriving its authority and sovereignty ...
.
Whilst the session was in progress the time Hungarian troops were on the offensive in Carpatho-Ukraine and Czecho-Slovak forces were retreating westward.
Augustin Stefan served as the speaker of the assembly.
Stefan Roscha served as the vice speaker of the assembly.
The assembly, with 22 members present, declared the independence of the Republic of Carpatho-Ukraine.
The session ratified the constitution of the Republic of Carpatho-Ukraine, with
Ukrainian
Ukrainian may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to Ukraine
* Something relating to Ukrainians, an East Slavic people from Eastern Europe
* Something relating to demographics of Ukraine in terms of demography and population of Ukraine
* Som ...
as the official language and a presidential form of governance.
The ''Soim'' elected Voloshyn as President of the Republic.
Yulian Revay was named Prime Minister.
Khust was attacked by Hungarian forces on the same day as the session was held.
Carpatho-Ukraine was annexed by
Hungary
Hungary ( hu, Magyarország ) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning of the Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croa ...
the following day, ending the brief existence of the Republic of Carpatho-Ukraine.
''Tragedy of Carpatho-Ukraine''
The ''Soim'' session is depicted in the 1940 movie ''Tragedy of Carpatho-Ukraine'', produced by
Vasyl Avramenko.
References
{{Ukrainian elections
Carpatho-Ukraine
Defunct national legislatures
Law of Ukraine
1939
This year also marks the start of the Second World War, the largest and deadliest conflict in human history.
Events
Below, the events of World War II have the "WWII" prefix.
January
* January 1
** Third Reich
*** Jews are forbidde ...
Elections in Carpatho-Ukraine
1939 in Ukraine