Moroz, Freed Dissident, Accepts Institute Position

Valentyn Moroz, a dissident historian released last week from Soviet prison, has accepted a post with Harvard's Ukrainian Research Institute.

"He informed me of his decision in a telephone call late Tuesday night--Moroz has definitely accepted," Omeljan Pritsak, Hrushevs'kyi Professor of Ukrainian History and director of the Institute, said yesterday.

Moroz confirmed yesterday that he will be coming to Harvard for at least the 1979-80 academic year, which begins July 1. "I have accepted President Bok's invitation, which I am very grateful for," Moroz said, adding that the details of his position with the Institute will be discussed when he makes a three-day visit to the University next week.

"The latest thinking is that Moroz's position will be that of visiting scholar, which would give him as much flexibility as possible in his duties," Ihor Sevcenko, professor of Byzantine History and Literature and associate director of the Institute said yesterday.

Sevcenko said language problems may prevent Moroz from teaching until his English improves, but noted that he might contribute to several seminars that have been taught in Ukrainian.

"He will probably concentrate on his research in the field of modern Ukrainian history--we all hope he will find respite and an opportunity for thinking things over after all he's been through," Sevcenko added.

After arriving from New York at 9:30 a.m. next Tuesday, Moroz will meet with Bok and hold an afternoon press conference, Institute officials said yesterday. His visit is planned to extend through Thursday.

Harvard first offered a post to Moroz, who has spent all but nine months of the past 14 years in Soviet prisons for anti-government activities, during his 20-week protest hunger strike in 1974, and repeated it yearly since then.

Moroz, along with dissidents Aleksandr Ginzburg, Mark Dymshits, George P. Vins and Edward S. Kuznetsov, was exchanged last Friday for two convicted Soviet spies.