ELECTIONS OF 1989 TO THE SUPREME RADA OF THE USSR IN THE KYIV REGION

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to study of specifics, the characteristic features and peculiarities of the electoral process to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR in the Kyiv region during the period of perestroika, to study the election programs of candidates for people’s deputies and the process of preparing for the elections. The methodological basis of the study is a set of methods. These include the following general scientific meth- ods: the systemic method, induction and deduction. Special methods, the historical-comparative method, thehistorical-systemic, and historical-typological methods were also used. The systemic research method helps to study the electoral process as a phenomenon in the context of historical time. The analytical method usinginduction and deduction allows us to isolate certain facts and events and reach certain conclusions; structural analysis allows us to broaden our view of the electoral process in the Kyiv region in 1989 and its internal components, in particular such as: the social base of parties, candidates’ election programs, the attitude ofthe authorities to the election campaign, the attitude of society to the elections and individual candidates forpeople’s deputies. The historical-comparative method allows us to expand our own vision of the perestroikaprocess in the Kyiv region and its characteristics and features. The historical-systemic method of research allows us to investigate the stages of the electoral process in the Kyiv region during the perestroika period.The historical-typological method allows us to determine the patterns of the 1989 electoral process in the Kyivregion based on facts and events. The historical-genetic method allows us to better understand what factorsformed the basis of the electoral process in the Kyiv region in 1989. The scientific novelty of the study liesin the fact that today the domestic historical body of works is represented exclusively by works of a generalnature on this topic, while there are almost no publications on the regional specifics of this issue. Conclusions.The 1989 elections in the Kyiv region to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR aroused strong public interest. Theelection campaign took place in conditions of socio-political transformations that occurred against the background of deepening democratization and transparency. The formation of election programs of candidates forpeople’s deputies and the election results themselves indicated tendencies towards weakening the influenceof the communists and their role in society. The main feature of the elections in the Kyiv region was that all processes took place in conditions of political proximity to the capital of the Ukrainian SSR – Kyiv, which to some extent accelerated the development of the socio-political situation. A significant role in the election process was played by the general electoral system, which provided for the creation of national-territorial andterritorial electoral districts, as well as the creation of district election commissions, which were to influence the results of the election campaign directly reflected in the ballot papers.