The Soviet totalitarian regime’s double standard was especially blatant under Stalin, in the system’s attitude toward noted cultural figures who were publicly lauded and privately persecuted. One such vivid example is Mykola Sadovsky, a legendary actor of the Ukrainian theater, one of those whose names are written in gold in the annals of world art...
The Soviet totalitarian regime’s double standard was especially blatant under Stalin, in the system’s attitude toward noted cultural figures who were publicly lauded and privately persecuted. One such vivid example is Mykola Sadovsky, a legendary actor of the Ukrainian theater, one of those whose names are written in gold in the annals of world art...
In the second half of the 1920s, the “armed vanguard of the Party,” the State Political Directorate [Russ. abbr., GPU, finally becoming the KGB] was making every effort to solve the mystery of Petliura’s ОmigrО Foka (Fotiy) Meleshko materially assisting his mother Olena living in Soviet Ukraine, in the village of Hlodosy (currently in Nova Ukrayinka district, Kirovohrad oblast). In a case file relating to rehabilitated Hlodosy residents Syvash, Khorunzhy, Zubko, Moroz, Ponomarenko, and Chuiko who, during the Ukrainian revolution, were men of the Sixth Company, Doroshenko Regiment, Army of the Ukrainian National Republic, and who, after its defeat, were never referred to other than “political bandits,” one finds a characteristic document, an inquiry from the GPU station in Zinovyevsk (former name of Kirovohrad) to the heads of GPU counterintelligence departments in Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk dated September 6, 1929:
“Proceeding from intelligence in our possession, a certain Sadovsky lived at the Continental Hotel in Kyiv, through whom Foka Meleshko, a bandit leader for Petliura, currently a notable figure among Petliura’s ОmigrОs, has been now and then sending money from Poland to his mother Olena Meleshko, resident of Hlodosy, Zlynsky district, Zinovyevsk region. Olena Meleshko, in turn, sent receipts in the name of Sadovsky (at the Continental Hotel, Kyiv)... Sadovsky... is a Ukrainian chauvinist, belongs to the Right wing in Ukraine, and is very prominent in Ukrainian circles...
“From the above it follows that Mykola Karpovych Sadovsky is involved with the Petliura emigres and is quite likely to be conducting counterrevolutionary work in the territory of Ukraine, acting on instructions from Petliura’s center in Poland.
“In view of this, we request immediate information from the Kyiv District GPU Station, concerning M.K. Sadovsky’s current whereabouts, his background, how he appeared in Ukraine, how long he has stayed here, and any other pertinent information you have obtained... We request that the Dnipropetrovsk GPU station take urgent measures to establish Sadovsky's status and his contacts abroad and in Ukraine...
“Petrvosky, Acting head of the District GPU Station
“Mitsul, Head of SOO”
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The fact remains that, even in that turbulent period, one could find answers to most of the above questions by visiting any public library. An encyclopedia reads: “Sadovsky, Mykola Karpovych (actual surname: Tobilevych, b. 1/13 December, 1856, v. Kamiano-Kostuvate, currently in Bratsky district, Mykolayiv oblast; d. March 7, 1933, Kyiv; Ukr. actor, stage director, theatrical figure, writer, brother of I. Karpenko-Kary, M. Sadovska, P. Saksahansky, studied at a modern school [non-classical secondary school] in Yelizavethrad {currently Kirovohrad})... Influenced by bourgeois nationalist circles, In 1919, S. with his troupe left Kyiv; in 1920, with part of the troupe settled in Halychyna occupied by aristocratic Poland... Returned to the Fatherland in 1926.”
However, GPU people in the province did not bother visiting libraries but waited for the Center to reply.
* * *
“In response to #123190
“Attention: Head of District GPU Department, Zinovyevsk
“Sadovsky, Mykola Karpovych is a permanent resident of Kyiv, now and then going on theatrical tours. Recent intelligence indicates that Sadovsky belongs to the counterrevolutionary organization called the Union for the Liberation of Ukraine, but there is no data pointing to the said organization’s contacts with any foreign countries through the subject.
“Sadovsky was born in Zinovyevsk. His actual surname is Tobilevych. His brother, People’s Artiste of the republic Saksahansky (also a stage alias) is likewise a Ukrainian chauvinist.
“In 1920, Sadovsky emigrated and returned in 1924.
“Berlinsky, Deputy Departmental Head
“Zahorsky, Head of SV”
* * *
In view of the newspaper limited space, we will not dwell on GPU’s inadvertent gaffs or conscious falsifications (which are self-evident). Instead, we will try to figure out what made Mykola Sadovsky, a celebrated Ukrainian cultural figure, suddenly become so concerned about an ordinary village woman living in Hlodosy far from any cultural venues.
Documents, until recently stored in the SBU archives in Kirovo hrad oblast, show that that Olena Meleshko’s son Fotiy was anything but Sadovsky’s nodding acquaintance. A master sergeant of the UNR Army, he was a tutor of Sadovsky’s son Mykola. The latter did not return to Soviet Ukraine with his father, but stayed in Prague, studying in the Philosophy Department of Charles University...
Yalyna (Olena Meleshko nee Harbuz) visited a fellow villager on March 8, 1933 and told that in the saries [vernacular for the Bolsheviks] lured Mykola Sadovsky in Ukraine” (from Volodymyr Vynnychenko’s Diary) she received a letter from her son Fotiy Meleshko who was then abroad. He wrote that he lived at the place of a man, Sadovsky by name, teaching his son secondary school subjects. It was agreed that his student’s father, after returning to Kyiv, would send the money due Fotiy not to Prague but to his mother in Hlodosy. It was some time before the GPU understood what it was all about. Here is a document dated August 31, 1932.
* * *
“Attention: Head of the District GPU Department, Kyiv
“Please be informed that, according to our sources, actor Sadovsky, resident of Kyiv, has a son abroad, through whom he maintains contact with Fotiy Meleshko. Sadovsky previously assisted Meleshko’s mother financially; Meleshko, in turn, likewise assisted Sadovsky’s son abroad. Quite likely, Sadovsky’s group (note the use of “group” rather than “troupe” — Author.) includes Meleshko’s wife, first name Olha. We request further investigation into Sadovsky...
“Valeiko, Acting Head of OO Department
“Moldaver, Assistant Inspector”
* * *
Mykola Sadovsky had his reasons for entrusting Fotiy Meleshko with his son’s education. Evidence is found in other GPU documents. The tutor was a well-educated and otherwise remarkable personally. From the transcript of an interrogation of schoolteacher Marfa Korop (nee Kupriyanenko) dated December 13, 1930, it follows that her first husband Fotiy Meleshko was a military inspector when Petliura’s forces were stationed in Yelizavethrad (previously he had worked under the provincial commissar of the Central Rada). She received a letter from him in 1921 from Czecho-Slovakia, saying he was studying medicine at a university. In 1924-26, Meleshko wrote to his relatives in Hlodosy that he had graduated from the university in Prague and wanted to return to Ukraine to work and use his knowledge for the benefit of his native land. He also complained that Soviet Ukraine did not trust him. Fellow countrymen visiting Yuri (Yurko) Tiutiunnyk’s HQ in Lviv (among them Cheka agents) were surprised to learn that local drama companies were staging plays based on Meleshko’s stories. What amazed them most was that the plays were a success.
It remains to be added that Fotiy Meleshko’s pupil Mykola Sadovsky the younger became a noted UNR politician in exile. All trace of his teacher was lost somewhere overseas. Not so long ago, Leonid Kutsenko, Ph.D., a reputed Kirovohrad researcher, picked up the trail in New York, but that is a different story.
THE DAY’S REFERENCE:
Mykola Karpovych Sadovsky (1856-1933), distinguished Ukrainian actor, stage director, theatrical figure, writer. Born to a landlord estate manager’s family in the village of Kamyano- Kostuvate (currently in Mykolayiv oblast); fought in the Russo-Turkish War (1877-78), recipient of St. George’s Cross. While in the army, met Maria Adasovska, future renowned Ukrainian actress known as Maria Zankovetska and his wife. Since 1881 performed with the troupes of Mykola Kropyvnytsky and Mykhailo Starytsky. In 1907, headed the first stationary Ukrainian drama company in Kyiv. After the defeat of the Ukrainian Revolution moved to Halychyna (then under Poland) and later to Zakarpattia (part of Czechoslovakia). Returned to Soviet Ukraine in 1926. Was Ukraine’s best romantic character actor. As stage director, actively campaigned against cheap Ukrainian versions of slapstick and melodramas. Author of the libretto of Mykola Lysenko’s Aeneid, translations from Russian classics, and memoirs. He and his brothers Ivan (stage name Karpenko-Kary), Panas (Saksahansky), and sister Maria (Sadovska-Barilotti) belong to the founders of the Ukrainian professional theater. Died in Kyiv and was buried in the Baikove Cemetery.
