Political Assassinations in Russian History

On Saturday afternoon, we invite you to a meeting dedicated to one of the most dramatic themes in Russian history — political assassinations. From the earliest victims, Boris and Gleb, to our contemporaries such as Alexei Navalny.

Boris and Gleb were the first canonized Russian saints, 11th-century princes and sons of Vladimir the Great. They were killed during a struggle for power following their father’s death and are traditionally regarded as the first victims of political assassination in the history of Kievan Rus.

We will discuss shootings and explosions, executions and secret reprisals, underground actions and the cruelty of authorities.
Ivan VI and Peter III, Paul I and Alexander II, Stolypin and Plehve, Yollos and Herzenstein, von Bogdanovich and von Min, Volodarsky and Uritsky, Kirov and Trotsky, Stus and Marchenko, Starovoitova and Nemtsov…
Each of these tragic episodes left a mark on generations.

What connects a snuffbox and an ice axe, a bullet and a fragment? How did these stories shape political culture and collective memory?

Join us to explore historical parallels together, discuss their significance, and reflect on how the past continues to influence our present.

The meeting will be led by journalist and historian Vadim Lifshits.