Oleksa Hirnyk | |
|---|---|
| Олекса Гiрник | |
 | |
| Born | 28 March 1912 |
| Died | 21 January 1978 (aged 65) |
| Cause of death | Self-immolation |
| Awards | Hero of Ukraine |
Oleksa Mykolajovych Hirnyk (Ukrainian: Олекса Миколайович Гiрник; 28 March 1912 – 21 January 1978) was a Ukrainian nationalist and Soviet dissident, an engineer by profession, who burned himself to death as an act of protest against Soviet suppression of the Ukrainian language (russification), culture and history.[1] The act was quickly covered up by the Soviet authorities and remained unknown to general populace for decades.[1]
- ^ a b (in Ukrainian) Євген Гірник: КДБ казало, що батько загинув у ДТП Yevhen Hirnyk: KGB said that his father died in an accident, BBC Ukrainian (21 January 2013)