Historical Origins of the Current Ukrainian Crisis

Historical origins of the current Ukrainian crisis is a complex topic since it covers a thousand-year history and includes the main issues of the past and present of the people living on the East European Plain. The preparation of an anthology of archival documents in support of Vladimir Putin's well-known article «On the historical unity of Russians and Ukrainians» is being completed. Andrei Artizov, Head of the Federal Archival Agency, shares some of the results of the joint work of scientists and historians-archivists in this article

REVIEW OF RUSSIAN ARCHIVES ON SOVIET-CZECH RELATIONS

The author addresses the problem of the role and place of archives in the process of political identity formation, including in the field of “politics of memory.” The article draws attention to the fact that the prevailing notions about archives imply a static understanding of the role and functioning of archives. Instead, the author challenges those assumptions and suggests examining the archives as part of a wide network of institutions of public diplomacy, which forge and nurture mutual understanding and cooperation in the humanitarian sphere. To confirm the stated thesis, the article refers to the joint activities and activities of Russian archives in the framework of Russian-Czech relations, examines in detail the questions of historical memory and complex historical issues in the history of Russian-Czech relations. The article analyzes the current state of the archives on Soviet-Czech relations, the trends in the declassification of archival materials. Particular attention is given to the reflection of bilateral relations in archival documents in 1918, 1938 and 1968. The author concludes that the declassification of documents on problematic issues of bilateral relations does not lead to an automatic improvement of mutual understanding, since the parties may have conflicting interpretations of the same documents

French Documents on the Beginning of the World War II

The Federal archival agency, the Russian Ministry of foreign affairs and the Russian Historical Society organized in 2018 a large-scale historical documentary project (an exhibition and online publication) on the background and consequences of the Munich Agreement (November 1937 – March 1938)11 This year marked by the 80th anniversary of the beginning of Second World War the project is to be continued in the form of an exhibition and an online publication of archival documents. We offer our readers some French documents. They are stored at the Russian State Military Archive in the fund «The Ministry of War of France. Military districts, fortified areas, army, corps, divisions, regiments, brigades, military educational institutions and other military organizations» (RGVA. F. 198k).) The fund contains materials on the activities of the French highest military bodies and their units, as well as documents on the headquarters and garrisons of the French military fortresses. These documents were moved from Germany to Moscow after the end of World War II and subsequently were incorporated into the foreign funds of RGVA. In 1993–1994 on the basis of bilateral intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the field of state archives, identification and return of archival documents and on the basis of the Federal Law of April 15, 1998 No. 64-ФЗ «On Cultural Values Moved to the USSR as a Result of the Second World War and Located on the territory of the Russian Federation» the documents of the 198k fund were transferred to France. The most valuable of the them were microfilmed; their copies are kept in the RGVA on the rights of originals. The two documents being published in this issue of MGIMO Review of International Relations are part of the 198k fund (second inventory), containing documents from French military attachés in European countries, which focus on their political and economic situation, armed forces, countries occupied by Germany, foreign and domestic USSR policy, the state of the Red Army, as well as intelligence reports of the 2nd bureau of the General Staff of the French army. Both documents: Note by the French military attaché in the USSR O.-A. Palace to the Minister of National Defense and the Minister of War of France E. Daladier about the strategic situation in Eastern Europe and its influence on the position of the USSR government on the conclusion of the Anglo-Franco-Soviet agreement on mutual assistance of July 13, 1939 (RGVA. F. 198. Op. 2. D. 466. L. 43–50) and the Report of the French Military Attaché in Poland F. Musse to the Minister of National Defense and the Minister of War of France E. Daladier on the influence of Poland on the course and results of the Anglo-French-Soviet negotiations of August 24, 1939 (RGVA. F. 198k. Op.2. D. 292. L. 148–166) are published in Russian translation for the first time

Soviet culture and power: A history in documents, 1917-1953

Leaders of the Soviet Union, Stalin chief among them, well understood the power of art, and their response was to attempt to control and direct it in every way possible. This book examines Soviet cultural politics from the Revolution to Stalin's death in 1953. Drawing on a wealth of newly released documents from the archives of the former Soviet Union, the book provides remarkable insight on relations between Gorky, Pasternak, Babel, Meyerhold, Shostakovich, Eisenstein, and many other intellectuals, and the Soviet leadership. Stalin's role in directing these relations, and his literary judgments and personal biases, will astonish many. The documents presented in this volume reflect the progression of Party control in the arts. They include decisions of the Politburo, Stalin's correspondence with individual intellectuals, his responses to particular plays, novels, and movie scripts, petitions to leaders from intellectuals, and secret police reports on intellectuals under surveillance. Introductions, explanatory materials, and a biographical index accompany the documents. © 2007 by Yale University. All rights reserved

O gulag e a literatura de gulag: um balanço das pesquisas

This paper presents an overview of recent and old debates on the literature created in Soviet concentration camp complexes (gulags), and examines books, conferences, research institutions and memory organizations dedicated to the matter. The article concludes with the observation that studies on the distinctiveness of Gulag literature are still scarce