For most European countries, 1968 is a symbolic date. For many, it means a deep watershed, the beginning of a new era. It is no coincidence that people coming of age at that time became known as the 68 generation. The intellectual and social revolution that swiped the continent had a huge impact on the way of life and on the cultural and political development of the Western world.

The purpose of the conference “Lessons of 1968” is to discuss the various forms in which the historical memory of those events was preserved in Western and Eastern Europe. Ludmila Ulitskaya, Adam Michnik, Zdeněk Hazdra, Sergei Lukashevsky, Elena Londakova, Irina Shcherbakova, Vladimir Lukin, Petr Pithart, Alexander Daniel, Andrei Kolesnikov, Gerd Koenen and others will talk about how these events are remembered in different countries and what myths appeared over time. Did 1968 have the same consequences for the cultural development of different European countries? Is the memory of the protest alive? How does the European experience get refracted in the Russian context? What is the significance of the memory of the events of 1968 for Eastern Europe and what did the protest demonstrations against the invasion of Czechoslovakia mean for the USSR?

On 30 May, the French Institute in Russia will host a screening of the film "May 68, a Strange Spring" and a meeting with film director Dominic Bo. This film goes through events of that time from the standpoint of those who opposed the demonstrators: policemen, company executives, statesmen, military, communist leaders. Apart from that, the director will present unique archival photos by Philippe Gras, part of the ongoing French Institute's exhibition (open: 23 May — 9 June)

On May 31, the Round Table "From Prague Spring to Perestroika" will be held at the Gorbachev Foundation. Researchers from Russia, the Czech Republic and Slovakia will present a modern vision of the events, actors, causes and consequences of the Czechoslovak crisis of 1968, caused by an attempt to reform Soviet-style socialism.

In the evening of 31 May, Ambassador of the European Union to the Russian Federation Markus Ederer will open the discussion “1968: Memory and Myth” that will gather participants and witnesses of the 1968 events in Czechoslovakia and in the USSR. Actors of the Stanislavsky Electrotheatre will read excerpts from “Official USSR Decrees on the Entry of Forces into Czechoslovakia”, “Pravda” newspaper of August 1968, Milan Kundera's “Unbearable Lightness” about the events of 1968 in Prague and “Midday” by Natalia Gorbanevskaya about the demonstration on 25 August 1968 on the Red Square.

On 1 June, experts will continue to discuss the historical and social contexts of the events of 1968 at the International Memorial.

The conference will end with a film screening. On 1 June, International Memorial will show a bold political drama film "Ear" by Karel Kachiny, shot under the close attention of representatives of the Soviet troops in 1970. The film was banned and was presented only in 1989. Julia Liderman and Josef Pazderka will discuss the movie after the screening.

Access to all events is free but registration is compulsory.

To register to the round table "From the Prague Spring to Perestroika" at the Gorbachev Foundation, please send a letter of intent until 28 May, indicating your name and affiliation, to public@gorby.ru titled "Participation in the Round Table ‘From Prague Spring to Perestroika’”.

To register to the discussion "1968: Memory and Myth" and the screenings at the Eisenstein library and the French Institute in Russia, please follow the link: https://euinrussia.timepad.ru/event/722513/.

To register to the second day of the conference at the International Memorial, please follow the link: https://www.memo.ru/ru-ru/events/calendar/331#list.

The full programme is available here: 

Photo © Philippe Gras​