Taras Shevchenko

Taras Shevchenko  March 9 [O.S. February 25] 1814 – March 10 [O.S. February 26] 1861) was a Ukrainian poet, writer, artist, public and political figure, as well as folklorist and ethnographer. His literary heritage is regarded to be the foundation of modern Ukrainian literature and, to a large extent, the modern Ukrainian language. Shevchenko is also known for many masterpieces as a painter and an illustrator.

He was a member of the Sts Cyril and Methodius Brotherhood and an academician of the Imperial Academy of Arts.

Shevchenko was arrested along with other members on April 5, 1847. Tsar Nicholas read Shevchenko's poem, "The Dream". Vissarion Belinsky wrote in his memoirs that, Nicholas I, knowing Ukrainian very well, laughed and chuckled whilst reading the section about himself, but his mood quickly turned to bitter hatred when he read about his wife. 

Shevchenko had mocked her frumpy appearance and facial tics, which she had developed whilst fearing the Decembrist Uprising and its plans to kill her family. After reading this section the Tsar indignantly stated "I suppose he had reasons not to be on terms with me, but what has she done to deserve this?" 

In the official report of count Orlov Shevchenko was accused in using the Little-Russian language (archaic Russian name for Ukrainian language) of outrageous content instead of being grateful to be redeemed out of serfdom.[50] In the report Orlov claims that Shevchenko was expressing a cry for alleged enslavement and disaster of Ukraine, glorified the Hetman Administration (Cossack Hetmanate) and Cossack's liberties and "with incredible audacity poured slander and bile on persons of Imperial House".

While under the investigation, Shevchenko was imprisoned in Saint Petersburg in casemates of the 3rd Department of Imperial Chancellary on Panteleimonovskaya Street (today ulitsa Pestelia, 9). After being convicted, he was exiled as a private with the Russian military Orenburg garrison  at Orsk, near the Ural Mountains. Tsar Nicholas I, confirming his sentence, added to it, "Under the strictest surveillance, without the right to write or paint."

Full text