The Status of the National Minorities (Ukrainians and Belarusians) in Poland in the First Part 1920s (A Case Study of the Foreign Office Archive of the Russian Federation)

The article delves into the position of national minorities (Ukrainians and Belarusians) in the “eastern kresy”. The study examines the infringement of the rights of Ukrainians and Belarusians residing in the territories that became part of the Second Polish Republic under the 1921 agreement. It emphasizes the challenges faced by the indigenous population in the context of their status as a national minority in the country. Although, from a legal standpoint, the Constitution guaranteed equality for all citizens before the law, it is underscored that this principle did not align with the de facto reality. The author presents instances of discrimination against the Ukrainian and Belarusian populations in Poland during the interwar period, concluding that such discrimination affected not only adults – who encountered difficulties in gaining admission to universities or securing employment – but also children, who faced obstacles in accessing education and attending schools. In this research, the author relies on archival materials from the Archive of Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation, providing a comprehensive analysis of the systemic issues that plagued these national minorities during this historical period. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the socio-political dynamics at play and the implications for the rights of national minorities in the interwar Polish state.