Stryzhak is from Zakarpattia Oblast. His working career he started at the Uzhhorod Autotransportation Company as a technician. After his obligatory military service, Stryzhak enrolled to the Kharkiv Law Institute. He graduated Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University (Kharkiv Law Institute) in 1971 and after half a year working as an investigator of the Ivanivka Raion persecution office (Odessa Oblast) until 1974 Stryzhak worked in the Uzhhorod city persecutor office. In 1974 to 1978 Stryzhak worked in the Zakarpattia Oblast persecutor office.
