Paluta Badunova

Paluta Aliaksandraŭna Badunova (; 7 September 1885 – 29 November 1938) was a key female political figure in the Belarusian independence movement of the early 20th century. She was the only woman at the Rada of the Belarusian Democratic Republic, and later became a victim of Soviet repressions in Belarus. Early years Badunova was born in the town of Navabelitsa (now one of the districts of Homiel). Her father, Alexander Vosipavich, rented a small estate, which was the main income of the family, and raised seven children - two sons and five daughters. She graduated from a two-grade school in Buynichy, near Mahilioŭ, after which she passed the exams for the title of home teacher of Russian language and geography. In 1905, she started working in the schools of the Gomel district. In 1914-1917, she studied at higher historical and literary courses in Petrograd, studying literature, history and geography. Revolutionary and nationalist activities She was elected to the Petrograd Council of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies as a student. It was probably there that she met deputy Zmicier Zhylunovich and (perhaps under his influence) joined the Belarusian Socialist Society (BSG). In June 1917, she was elected a member of the Central Committee of the BSG. In July, the newspaper "Volnaya Belarus" reported on her trip to Buda-Kashalev and Homiel, where she conducted party work. From August 5, 1917, she was a member of the audit commission of the Central Council of Belarusian organizations in Minsk. In August 1917, Badunova was among the founders of the Belarusian Teachers' Union. For a certain time (until March 3, 1918), she directed Belarusian school No. 20. She also took part in the work of the First All-Belarusian Congress. On February 21, 1918, she joined the People's Secretariat of the BNR, becoming the People's Secretary of Guardianship in the first Government of Belarus. As People's Secretary, she signed the Act of March 25. After the representatives of the BNR (Y. Lesik, Jazep Varonka, Raman Skirmunt, etc.) sent a telegram to Wilhelm II, Badunov was recalled from the post of People's Secretary by the left wing of the Society. On May 1, 1918, together with Tamaš Hryb, she announced the creation of a separate faction of Socialist Revolutionaries within the Council of the Belarusian People's Republic and thus became a co-founder of the Belarusian Party of Socialist Revolutionaries (BPSR), the secretary of the party's Central Committee.