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Conf on Moscow in 1812 Patriotic War dedicated to feat of Russians

The unique publishing program, which is prepared by Moscow archivists, paid tribute to those glorious years and the feat of Russian soldiers and officers

MOSCOW, August 30 (Itar-Tass) — A scientific and practical conference, which opened in the Chief Archives in the Russian capital, is devoted to the 200th anniversary of Russia’s victory in the Patriotic War in 1812. The conference is called “Moscow in the Patriotic War of 1812.”

The unique publishing program, which is prepared by Moscow archivists, paid tribute to those glorious years and the feat of Russian soldiers and officers. Some episodes of the film, which shows the celebrations on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Patriotic War of 1812 in the presence of the Russian Imperial family, were put on display at the conference. The presentation of the two-volume edition “Moscow and the Patriotic War of 1812”, “1812 year. Moscow calendar” was held. The historical documentary exhibition “Moscow in the Patriotic War of 1812” was held.

Leading Russian and foreign historians, philologists, writers, university professors, teachers, officials from the Federal Archive Agency, the RAS Institute of Russian History, the RAS Institute of Russian Literature “Pushkin House” and other organizations are participating in the conference. Descendants of famous Russian families, including Kira Khitrovo-Kromskaya, the great granddaughter of General Field Marshall Mikhail Kutuzov. She represents the society of descendants of the participants in the Patriotic War of 1812.

Kira Mikhailovna Khitrovo-Kromskaya told those present about rare talents of commander Kutuzov, who had showed them already in the childhood, and about his very tender attitude to his wife and daughters. Kira Mikhailovna’s father was dreaming to live only in Russia, help the Soviet country, but was executed. Kira Mikhailovna was considered a repressed person. They did not want to enroll her in the institute. But she received the higher education after all and worked as an expert in the Soviet Union amalgamation Soyuz Nefteexport.

“The wartimes are always horrible. The invasion of the French troops in Russia brought many ordeals to the Russian people,” French cultural attach· in Russia Igor Sokologorsky said at the opening of the conference. “But this was the time for the launch of close relations between Europe and Russia. Frenchmen began to understand Russian reality. The military campaign in France also exerted influence on Russian soldiers and officers. It is important that we celebrate this date together. It is important that scientists continue to study the events of those years,” he noted.

The greetings and congratulatory messages from Moscow Deputy Mayor Leonid Pechatnikov and the board of the Russian Union of Writers were voiced at the conference.

“This conference is one of many bright events in honor of the remarkable date. This victory is celebrated in the whole nation,” deputy head of the Russian State Archives Vladimir Tarasov said. “A major exhibition titled “And Russia remembers, not in vain, Our Borodino's field” (A line from “Borodino” poem by Lermontov) is dedicated to the 200th anniversary. The documents were presented to us from France, Belarus, the Netherlands and other countries. The book collection “Feats of Russian soldiers and officers in the 1812 war” and a photo album about the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the victory in the 1812 war and other editions will be showed. To keep the memory about the feat of Russian soldiers and officers is important for us and future generations. We should do all to be worthy of our ancestors,” deputy head of the Federal Archive Agency Vladimir Tarasov said.

“The unconquerable Russian spirit, the Orthodox Christian faith, which consolidated Russians around the emperor, won a victory in the 1812 war. Russia proved that the country is invincible. This victory set an example of heroism in the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945) as well,” first deputy head of the Moscow chief archive department Mikhail Gorinov told the conference.

According to the speakers, 1812 is the year of the Russian glory, when Russian people saved not only their homeland, but also Europe from Napoleon. Major changes also took place in Russia and its image in the world changed.

The scientific and practical conference “Moscow in the Patriotic War of 1812” will be held until August 31.