28.11.2005 

The President of Ukraine gave a posthumous title of the Hero of Ukraine to Vasil Stus, dissident poet, former political prisoner at a strict-security area of camp “Perm-36”.

This is stated in a decree #16522005 of November, 26. 

According to the decree, the title honors unconquerable spirit, sacrificial service to Ukraine and the national idea, and high humanistic ideals of creative work.  Vasil Stus, born in 1938, was a poet, critic, publicist, and member of the Ukrainian Helsinki Group. 

In 1972 he was arrested and charged with “anti-Soviet agitation and propaganda in poems and literary works”.  He received a sentence of 5 years’ strict-security camp and 3 years’ exile. 

After release, he was rearrested in 1980 and sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment in a strict-security camp and 5 years of exile. 

Vasil Stus died in a punishment cell at night on September 4, 1985.  His body was buried in Perm Region (Russia). 

This information (in Russian) is available at http://www.dengi-info.com/news/?nid=10078