Background
ZARETSKIY, Mikhas’ was born on January 12, 1902 in village Vysokiy Gorodets, now Vitebsk Oblast. Son of a village deacon.
ZARETSKIY, Mikhas’ was born on January 12, 1902 in village Vysokiy Gorodets, now Vitebsk Oblast. Son of a village deacon.
Prior to 1917 studied at Mogilev Theological Seminary. Late 1920's and early 1930's studied in Literature Department, Teachers’ Training Faculty, Belorussian University, Minsk.
1919-1920 schoolteacher. Chairman, volost’ teachers’ associate. Head, volost’ educational department.
Then member, Mogilev Education and Socialist Culture Workers’ Board. Attended 2nd All-Russian Congress of Education Workers and was elected candidate member, Central Committee, Education Workers’ Union. 1920-1927 in Soviet Army.
1930-1931 deputy ed, newspaper “Savetskaya Belarus’”. From 1931 with Belorussian Academy of Sciences. From 1924 member, “Maladnyak” proletarian writers’ associate.
From 1927 co-founder and member, “Polymya” lit associate. 1921 first work published. Criticized for his novels “Paths and Roads” and “The Hypocrites” for his ironic attitude to Soviet nationality policy in Belorussian and for criticizing Party opportunism and the collectivization policy.
Accused of preparing “a revolt of Belorussian national democrats against the Soviet regime”. 1936 arrested by People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs and sentenced.
Member, Belorussian Writers’ Union from 1934.