Russia-Czech Republic: speaking the same language. Russian-Czech economic relations

Almost a quarter of a century has passed since the velvet Czech revolution of 89 and the collapse of the USSR in 91. In Russia, the power of the security forces has been established, expenses have been nationalized and incomes have been privatized, the economy is hydrocarbon-dependent, and freedom is limited by interests. In the Czech Republic there is a systematic denationalization against the backdrop of democratization of society, experience long-term addiction from the USSR limits the intensification of European integration. Russia is a huge power and the processes of integration or creation of new political and economic unions can only happen around her. The Czech Republic cannot play a significant role outside its borders, and it does not particularly strive. During this time, many significant events happened, I will highlight three: joining NATO, the European Union and Schengen. All of them were impulses to move away from the big eastern brother. And everything would have been fine if it had not been for the global economic crisis that broke out in 2008. He forced the Czech Republic to look for partners outside of these alliances. The need for candidates to have developed democratic institutions faded into the background in favor of economic feasibility. Russia with its huge hydrocarbon reserves, white and educated citizens of a similar mentality, gaining strength and influence foreign policy– not the worst candidate for a closer relationship.

Relations between the easternmost and westernmost Slavic countries have never been constant. They ranged from socialist understanding to capitalist hatred, from economic interest to democratic contempt. Recently, contradictions between Czech Catholicism and Russian Orthodoxy have been added to them. Averaging these swings, I would characterize them as cautious pragmatism. Today, dozens of interstate agreements have been signed between Russia and the Czech Republic, many business projects have been implemented, and the flow of tourists from both sides is breaking records. But the Czechs still have a residual feeling of historical injustice from 1968 and fear from the unpredictability of the actions of the “Russian bear”.

In 2003, the highest government post former dissident Vaclav Havel, who for almost 15 years was the main ideologist and guarantor of democratic changes in the Czech Republic in the post-revolutionary period, left. I don’t want to cast doubt on Mr. Havel’s achievements. I will only say that he is worthy to be put on the same level as the most famous Czech politician, Tomas Garik Masaryk. But one cannot help but notice, and even more so accept, the sharp cooling in Russian-Czech relations that was initiated by the presidents of the Czech Republic. I think that Russia was not actively pursuing rapprochement, being busy with its own internal problems. As a result, the leadership of both countries did not use their influence in the interests of their peoples. And as a result, the majority of business ties between former partners are broken and it becomes more difficult to establish new contacts. We still feel the echo of this policy. The situation was partly saved by immigrants from Russia, who received a residence permit in the Czech Republic in the desire to live and do business in more stable conditions. We can safely say that the investments of Russians, for example, in the Karlovy Vary resort, greatly helped in forming the city’s budget. But, in the last 4-5 years, the number of denials of legalization to Russians wishing to live and do business in the Czech Republic has sharply increased. Refusals accounted for about 90% of the applications submitted. Obtaining a residence permit in the Czech Republic has suddenly become much more difficult than obtaining it in most other EU countries. The main reason given was the lack of sufficient grounds to obtain a visa. No clear reasons were stated anywhere for this; all that was left was speculation or corruption. Indeed, in order to obtain this very sufficiency, a foreigner had to either violate the Law (by doing business in the Czech Republic before obtaining this right) or be an ardent supporter of risky business (invest in the economy of another country without guaranteeing access to their assets). This was the main reason that Russians, like representatives of other countries of the former USSR, began to bypass the Czech Republic in their desire to legalize themselves in the EU and transfer their assets there. I could accept this if it concerned low-skilled labor emigrants or criminal migrants. But capital began to bypass the Czech Republic. Expectations for an influx of additional large investors from the West do not come true: the banks are no longer Czech and are more interested in the movement of capital to the West, and not vice versa. The crisis and sociology force us to urgently take measures to find and attract educated, wealthy and able to adapt immigrants to the Czech Republic. A pilot project is clearly not enough here.

In 2013, after losing the presidential race and parliamentary elections, one of the most faithful followers of the “Havelism” movement, Prince Schwarzenberg, greatly lost influence. Being the richest and one of the most influential politicians, especially as Minister of Foreign Affairs, he long defined foreign policy state and it was under him that relations with Russia cooled to the “freezing point.” One can understand the prince and other pro-Western politicians and businessmen: their wealth has roots in restitution events and in economics and politics artificially limited by the EU. How can you trust the foreign policy of a state to a representative of another, albeit friendly one? In order to completely weaken the state and stratify society, the previous government did everything to pass a law on the return of property worth many billions to religious institutions, primarily Catholic ones. The emphasis has shifted from the need to reduce external and internal debt to its increase and destabilization of society during a crisis. I am not the most ardent fan of love and friendship with Russia. As a citizen of Russia, I have the right to make such a statement. But, as a pragmatic businessman, it seems to me that the government’s actions are wrong to exclude the benefits of “friendship of interests” between the two Slavic states. Many citizens of the Czech Republic are disappointed in both the social and economic situation, and are forced to view Russia as one of the countries with which closer relations are needed, even despite claims of a democratic nature. After all, no one is talking about political union and opening borders. We are talking about professional work in search of quality migrants. After all, the United States, for example, would not have become the strongest player on the world stage without such support.

The situation began to change in 2013, when Russia's longtime friend Milos Zeman became president of the Czech Republic. The new president made his first trip abroad to Russia. This has become a vector of interests in Russian-Czech relations. The pragmatism of the new president and his long-standing warm relations with Russia made it possible to hope for a new impetus and an improvement in the situation both in the legalization of Russians in the Czech Republic and in increasing, first of all, private investment in Czech business. After all, the state inflow of capital was completely limited, having recently denied Aeroflot participation in the tender for the purchase of Czech Airlines. Perhaps something will change after President Zeman’s expected trip to Russia in February of this year.

An exclusively pro-Western orientation and ostracism towards immigrants from Russia are disastrous for a small European country like the Czech Republic. The only alternative to this is Chinese capital and Arab migration. The times of Brzezinski with his “Cold War” should not return, but certainly not for the Czech Republic. It must defend its own interests first of all, and only then the allied ones. As Europessimist and ex-president Vaclav Klaus did in his relations with the EU. How President Zeman began to do this. Of course, one should not exclude in these relations the shadow of another important player on the European stage - the United States. Its interests in the Czech Republic are clear and cannot be unreservedly accepted by Czech politicians. Take, for example, the example of fuel for the Temelin nuclear power plant or the tender for its completion. And our partners in the European Union are determined to compete for financial and human capital. But this is a topic for another analysis.

We, foreigners living and doing business in the Czech Republic, have hopes for better times. The grounds for them have become stronger: in addition to the president, the newly formed new government is also looking east. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was headed by socialist Lubomir Zaoralek, who 10 years ago wrote an open letter to ex-President Havel with accusations against his creation of an anti-Russian coalition. Former cosmonaut Vladimir Remek, a long-time follower of the ideas of rapprochement with Russia, has been appointed Ambassador to Russia. Several ministers come from business backgrounds and are accustomed to pragmatism in choosing partners. There is every chance for qualitative growth in Russian-Czech relations, in the interests of both countries and their citizens. The Slavic basis is the key to success in this development. There are many more reasons to be friends than not to be friends. Russia needs Czech products and technologies. Russians love the Czech Republic and, in addition to wanting to make a tourist trip, many of them seriously consider it as a country for immigration. The Czech Republic needs qualified foreigners and capital. But in its relations with foreigners it can no longer be limited to artificial restrictions on legalization and strict control over their stay. It is urgent to develop and finally offer fair conditions for immigration and doing business by foreigners. Professionally, pragmatically and consistently search for and fight for a professional investor and a quality immigrant, especially from Russia. There is a lot of soul and money, but little happiness. So make a happy stay for the most worthy of them! In the interests of the present and future of the Czech Republic!

Diplomatic relations between the Russian Federation and the Czech Republic were established on January 1, 1993 (between the USSR and Czechoslovakia - June 9, 1934).

In 1993, during the visit to Prague of the President Russian Federation The Treaty on Friendly Relations and Cooperation between Russia and the Czech Republic was signed.

Relations between our countries in last years developed quite dynamically, maintaining an active political dialogue at the highest and highest levels.

On April 26-29, 2007, the President of the Czech Republic, V. Klaus, paid an official visit to Russia. President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin made an official visit to the Czech Republic on March 1-2, 2006.

On May 26, 2005, a working visit to Russia by the Chairman of the Government of the Czech Republic took place. The official visit of the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation to the Czech Republic took place in October 2001.

On December 20, 2005, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic visited Moscow on a working visit. A working visit to Prague by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov took place on October 18-19, 2004.

Interparliamentary relations are active. In October 2007, Chairman of the Federation Council S.M. Mironov held a bilateral meeting with his Czech colleague P. Sobotka in Bucharest (during the regular meeting of the Association of European Senates), in September 2006 he took part in international celebrations in Prague on the occasion of the 10th -anniversary of the resumption of the activities of the Senate of the Czech Parliament. In October 2006, a Czech parliamentary delegation led by the Chairman of the Senate visited the Volgograd region to participate in the first international economic forum “Czech Republic - Southern federal district».

The exchange of official visits of the heads of the upper houses of parliaments of both countries took place in 2003-2004.

In April 2006, the Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Parliament made an official visit to Russia. Official visit to the Czech Republic of the Chairman State Duma Russian Federation was implemented in March 2003.

Trade and economic relations between Russia and the Czech Republic have shown positive dynamics in recent years. Russian-Czech trade turnover in 2007 amounted to 8.4 billion dollars (in 2006 - 7.5 billion dollars, in 2005 - 5.5 billion dollars, in 2004 - 3, 7 billion dollars), including Russian exports to the Czech Republic - 5.5 billion dollars, Russian imports - 2.9 billion dollars.

The structure of mutual trade on the Russian side is dominated by goods of the fuel and energy group (80% Russian exports), 6.4% comes from ferrous and non-ferrous metals, 3.3% from machinery and equipment. In Czech exports to Russia, 45.9% are machinery, equipment and vehicles, 22.4% are various processed products, 14.1% are chemical goods and 10.2% are finished products.

More than 75% of the Czech Republic's gas needs and about 70% of its oil needs are covered by supplies from Russia. In 2007, the volumes of Russian gas exports to the Czech Republic remained at the 2006 level - 7.2 billion cubic meters of gas (including 0.6 billion cubic meters - as payment for transit to Europe, the volume of which was 2006 amounted to 22.8 billion cubic meters). The de facto monopolist on the Czech gas market, RVE Transgaz, at the end of 2006 concluded a contract with Gazpromexport LLC for the supply of Russian gas to the country until 2035.

In 2007, there was a slight reduction in purchases of Russian oil (to 5.1 million tons compared to 5.5 million tons in 2006).

Cooperation in nuclear energy is developing. Contracts were concluded for authorship and engineering support for the entire period of operation of the Czech nuclear power plants Temelin and Dukovany. In 2006, contracts were signed between the Czech energy concern ČEZ and the Russian company TVEL for supplies starting in 2008, nuclear fuel for the Temelin NPP in the amount of $500 million.

Military-technical, investment and innovation cooperation remain important sectors of Russian-Czech cooperation. Notable Czech investment projects in Russia are, in particular, a plant for the production of automobile spark plugs in the Kaliningrad region, the production of automobile components in Yelabuga (Tatarstan), the meat processing plant of Hame-Babice JSC in the Vladimir region, the acquisition of Skoda Holding JSC 50% shares of the Russian enterprise Sibelektroprivod (SIBEL), construction by the Czech company Skoda Auto (Mlada Boleslav) of a plant for the production of Skoda cars near Kaluga, construction of a plant for the production building materials in the Republic of Bashkortostan, construction of an oil refinery by the Moravske Naftové Doly company in Verkhoturye.

The first major Russian investment in the Czech Republic was the purchase in 2004 by the Russian holding OMZ of 100% of the shares ($45 million) of the Skoda Nuclear Engineering, Skoda Steel and Skoda Kovarny plants (in 2006 A Russian joint venture of Atomenergomash and Gazprombank bought a controlling stake in the Skoda Nuclear Engineering plant. In 2005, EvrazHolding LLC won the tender for the purchase of 99% of the state stake in one of the largest Czech metallurgical enterprises, Vitkovice Steel ($290 million), the Russian company StankoImpex acquired the Skoda Machine plant for the production of heavy metalworking machines Tul" ($50 million). In 2006, Chelyabinsk Pipe Rolling Plant OJSC acquired the Czech enterprise MSA Holding JSC for $60 million.

In the Russian direction, Czech government structures for export lending and insurance operate - the Czech Export Bank and the Export Guarantee and Insurance Company. In April 2007, Vnesheconombank, the First Czech-Russian Bank and the Czech Export Bank signed a memorandum of cooperation in the field of mutual investments. A number of interbank agreements and commercial contracts on joint investment projects for a total amount of over 2 billion euros.

The debt of the former USSR and Russia to the Czech Republic, amounting to about $3.6 billion, has been almost completely settled. As of the beginning of 2007, the total amount of the remaining debt was about $70 million.

The parties remain interested in expanding regional cooperation, which is seen as a means of improving the structure of mutual trade turnover and equalizing the foreign trade balance. Partnership relations between the constituent entities of the Russian Federation and Czech regional or state structures are formalized in the form of interregional documents at various levels (today - more than 30). The most active ties with the Czech Republic are maintained by Tatarstan, North Ossetia-Alania, Nizhny Novgorod, Kaluga, Volgograd, Leningrad, Voronezh, Omsk, Sverdlovsk, Astrakhan region, Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug - Yugra, Moscow and St. Petersburg. In 2007, the Czech Republic held national exhibitions in Russia in Kazan (June 19-22) and Omsk (September 11-14).

Russian-Czech scientific, technical and innovative cooperation is developing on the basis of a corresponding program, which includes over 30 scientific and technical projects involving joint basic research and scientific and technical developments.

An important tool for the development of Russian-Czech cooperation in various areas is a bilateral Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation (its next meeting was held on October 22-23, 2007 in Prague). With the participation of the relevant Russian ministries and departments, 10 mixed working groups have been formed within the Intergovernmental Commission in various areas of cooperation (military-technical, trade-economic, scientific-technical, as well as in the field of industry, transport, nuclear energy, agriculture).

The regulatory framework for bilateral relations has been generally formed; it includes about 80 interstate, intergovernmental and interdepartmental documents. Currently, drafts of interstate agreements on social security and the fight against organized crime, an intergovernmental agreement on amendments and additions to the 1994 agreement on the promotion and mutual protection of investments, as well as interdepartmental documents on cooperation in the field of plant quarantine and cooperation are in the works. in the field of supply and transit of Russian oil.

Bilateral cultural and humanitarian interaction is successfully carried out. In 2006, the Season was held in the Czech Republic Russian culture(The Czech cultural season in Russia was held in 2003). In April 2007, an updated cooperation program was signed between the ministries of culture of both countries for 2007-2009. The necessary foundations for scientific and student exchanges have been created. There is an agreement on cooperation in the field of education and science between the Ministries of Education of Russia and the Czech Republic.

RUSSIAN-CZECH RELATIONS

23-07-2013

Diplomatic relations between the Russian Federation and the Czech Republic were established on January 1, 1993 (between the USSR and Czechoslovakia - June 9, 1934). In addition to embassies in Moscow and Prague, there are Russian consulates general in Brno and Karlovy Vary, and Czech consulates in St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg.

In 1993, the Treaty on Friendly Relations and Cooperation between Russia and the Czech Republic was signed. The legal framework for bilateral relations has been generally formed and includes about 80 interstate, intergovernmental and interdepartmental documents.

Bilateral relations have been developing quite dynamically in recent years, with active political dialogue being maintained, primarily at the highest level. The Czech authorities declare their desire to build equal relations with Russia based on the principles of pragmatic and mutually beneficial cooperation.

The mutual understanding and mutual respect between the heads of state that developed under V.V. Putin (his official visit to Prague took place on March 1-2, 2006) and V. Klaus, who served as president of the country from 2003 to 2013 During this time, he repeatedly visited our country both in official and personal capacities, including a working visit on October 14, 2009. Bilateral meetings of the heads of state took place on May 22, 2009 within the framework of the Russia-EU summit in Khabarovsk and on April 7 2010 - “on the sidelines” of the Russian-American summit in Prague. On May 9, 2010, the Czech President took part in the celebrations in Moscow on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the Victory, and on November 11-12, 2010, he visited Russian capital on a private visit, during which a meeting took place with the Chairman of the Russian Government.

On December 7-8, 2011, the official visit of the President of the Russian Federation D.A. Medvedev to the Czech Republic took place. During the meeting, 14 bilateral agreements and commercial documents were signed.

As part of the Czech Republic's presidency of the European Union, the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic paid a working visit to Russia on January 10, 2009. The official visit of the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation to the Czech Republic took place in October 2001.

Bilateral meetings of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Russia and the Czech Republic S.V. Lavrov and K. Schwarzenberg took place on the sidelines of the 65th and 66th sessions of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 23, 2010 and September 22, 2011. Prior to this, the foreign ministers of the two countries exchanged working visits in 2004 and 2005.

The official visit of the Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic to Russia took place on June 14-18, 2010. In November 2008, the Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic made an official visit to Russia.

The official visit of the Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation to the Czech Republic was carried out in March 2003. On March 18-19, 2013, V.I. Matvienko visited Prague on an official visit. S.E.Naryshkin has an invitation to visit the Czech Republic.

On May 27-29, 2013, a working visit to the Russian Federation took place by the Chairman of the Government of the Czech Republic P. Necas, who, at the head of a representative delegation, visited, in addition to Moscow, St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg.

Russian-Czech trade and economic cooperation in recent years has been characterized by stable positive dynamics, relations between the Czech Republic and Russian regions. According to the Federal Customs Service of Russia, in 2009 mutual trade turnover amounted to 6.8 billion US dollars, in 2010 – 8.4 billion US dollars, in 2011 – 9.9 billion US dollars. At the end of 2012, it increased by 6.3% compared to 2011 and reached $10.5 billion, while Russian exports amounted to $5.2 billion (a decrease of 3.9%), imports – $5.3 billion (an increase of 18.7%).

An important tool for developing interaction in various fields is the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Industrial, Scientific and Technical Cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Czech Republic, the eighth meeting of which took place on November 28-29, 2012 in Kazan. On December 8, 2011 in Prague, the co-chairs of the IGC signed a Joint Statement on Partnership for Modernization, on the basis of which a list of specific projects in the field of energy, scientific and technical, investment and innovation cooperation, in the field of industry and transport, agriculture and tourism was compiled, signed in during the eighth meeting of the Commission.

Bilateral cultural exchange is quite intense, which, after the cultural seasons of the Czech Republic in Russia and Russia in the Czech Republic in 2003 and 2006, respectively, has in recent years been almost completely transferred to a commercial basis. Tours of Russian theaters, musical and creative groups in the Czech Republic are mainly carried out through private agencies. On December 8, 2011, in Prague Castle, the presidents of Russia and the Czech Republic inaugurated the exhibition “The Royal Court under the Romanov Scepter” from the collection of the Moscow Kremlin Museums, which was visited by more than 75 thousand people.

A cooperation program was signed between the ministries of culture of the two countries for 2012-2015. In 2012, the Czech Republic hosted a successful tour of the Alexandrinsky Theater, a performance by the Russian opera singer A.Yu. Netrebko, concerts of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, the Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra. P.I. Tchaikovsky. The Red Banner Academic Song and Dance Ensemble of the Russian Army performs to sold-out crowds. A.V.Alexandrova, regularly tours in the Czech Republic. There is active bilateral cooperation in the field of cinematography.

The necessary basis for scientific and student exchanges has been created. There is an agreement on cooperation in the field of education and science between the Ministries of Education of Russia and the Czech Republic. The practice of direct interuniversity connections has become widespread. In particular, Charles University and the Czech Higher Technical School entered into agreements with Moscow State University, St. Petersburg State University, Moscow State University pedagogical university, as well as a number of faculties of Russian universities.

Cooperation in the scientific field takes place under the auspices of the academies of sciences of the two countries. In November 2011, a regular meeting of the Russian-Czech commission of historians and archivists took place in Prague at the Institute of Contemporary History.

There has been a steady increase in the study of the Russian language in the Czech Republic, which is taught in 200 schools and gymnasiums, as well as in 43 universities in the Czech Republic. Important role The Russian Center for Science and Culture in Prague and its language courses play a role in promoting the Russian language. In 2012, the Russian Center of the Russkiy Mir Foundation was created at the West Bohemian University in Pilsen. Useful work conducted by the Czech Association of Russian Studies: with its active participation The national Olympiad in the Russian language “ARS-poetics: a monument to Pushkin” is taking place.

A significant contribution to the development of the human dimension of bilateral relations is made by representatives of the Russian diaspora living in the Czech Republic, who have the status of an officially recognized national minority. To date, they have created about 30 organizations; in 2008, the Coordination Council of Compatriots was formed. More than a dozen Russian-language publications are published in the country: the newspapers “Inform Prague”, “Prague Telegraph”, magazines “Czech Republic Panorama”, “Czech House”, “Prague Parnassus” and others.

Various initiatives of a spiritual and educational orientation are carried out by the metochion of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Czech Republic and the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia. The Moscow Patriarchate is working to create an Orthodox spiritual and cultural center named after St. Lyudmila in Prague.

In the development of humanitarian ties between the two countries, the role of non-governmental organizations is noticeable, a number of them are directly focused on cooperation with Russia, for example, the “Czech-Russian Society” (chaired by Czechoslovakian cosmonaut, member of the European Parliament from the Communist Party of the Czech Republic and Moravia V. Remek).

On March 1, Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives on an official visit to Prague. The most important event in the preparation of this visit was the holding in Prague of the first meeting of the interstate commission on trade, economic and cultural cooperation, recreated after a many-year break.

On December 28, 1992, Russian President Boris Yeltsin signed a Decree recognizing the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic as two independent states. Diplomatic relations between Russia and the Czech Republic were established on January 1, 1993. On August 26, 1993, during the visit of President Boris Yeltsin to the Czech Republic, an Agreement on Friendly Relations and Cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Czech Republic and an intergovernmental agreement on trade and economic relations and scientific and technical cooperation were signed, within the framework of which agreements on atomic energy were concluded in the field international road transport, cooperation in the field of railway transport.
Already in December 1994, the first meeting of the intergovernmental commission on trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation took place. Currently, more than 30 agreements have been signed between our countries, regulating relations in the most different areas economic life. At the end of 2005, our trade turnover increased by 50 percent compared to the previous year and reached 6 billion US dollars. Investment cooperation has emerged, although the volume of accumulated Russian investments in the Czech Republic exceeds the counter volume of Czech investments in Russia by approximately seven times. The commission approved 17 new large joint projects in our country with the participation of Czech capital.

The Czech Republic's exports are dominated by machinery and equipment, while the bulk of Russian exports are fuel and raw materials. Over 120 Czech companies operate in the Russian Federation. The most prominent place among them is occupied by the Skoda concern, which has created and successfully operates a number of joint ventures. In April 2004, the leaders of the Czech concern and the Russian company Vagonmash signed a contract worth more than $11 million to produce metro cars in Kazan.
Natural gas supplies from Russia to the Czech Republic have been carried out since 1967. The Czech Republic consumes about 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually. Three quarters of the “blue fuel” is supplied by Russia and one quarter by Norway. In 2013, contracts for the supply of Russian gas to the Czech Republic will expire. During the upcoming visit, a discussion of Russian gas supplies after 2013 is planned.

Our relations in the field of culture are also on the rise. This year has been declared the Year of Russian Culture in the Czech Republic. On February 19, a presentation of the Russian-Czech project “Russian cultural season in the Czech Republic in 2006” took place at the Janáčkov Theater. Russian ballet stars from the Bolshoi and Mariinsky Theaters, the Kremlin Ballet, and the Musical Theater performed on the theater stage. Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko.

The official opening of the “Russian cultural season” will take place on March 1 in Prague. At the end of last year, a presentation of a colorful album dedicated to the anniversary took place in the Czech Republic Battle of Stalingrad, celebration of the 105th anniversary of the famous cartoonist Boris Efimov, opening of the monument to Mikhail Kutuzov in connection with the 200th anniversary of the historical Battle of Austerlitz.

One of the highlights of Vladimir Putin's upcoming visit should be the ceremonial transfer to Russia of the painting "Portrait of a Peasant" by the outstanding Russian portrait painter Ivan Kramskoy. The canvas belonged to the Russian Museum in Leningrad. By June 22, 1941, it ended up in the Vorontsov Palace in Alupka. After the capture of Crimea by the Germans, traces of it disappeared, and after the war it was bought from a private collection by a gallery in Brno.

Based on materials from publications

"Český rusista nemá být tím, kdo miluje, obdivuje a do Čech chce přivádět všechno ruské; zvláště pak není obdivovatelem ruského a sovětského imperialismu. Český rusista má být tí m, kdo ruské kulturní souvislosti hluboce zná – a díky tomu je schopen je kriticky hodnotit. Český rusista má být tím, kdo v ruské kultuře a společnosti podporuje osobnosti a hodnoty, jež stojí na straně svobody člověka, proti režimu, proti státnímu teroru, proti bezduché instituci, proti potlačování svobody svědomí a výrazu." Putna Martin C. Obrazy z kulturních dějin ruské religiozity . Praha: Vyšehrad, 2015, s. 16.

Czechs and Russia

The relationship of the Czechs to the Russians has changed over the past two centuries.

The era of national revival

For the first time in Czech society there is a deep and serious interest in Russia in the era of national revival.
Representatives of the Czech revival and supporters of the idea of ​​a common Slavism saw in the Russian people a strong and big brother and hoped for its support. They were inspired by the Russians as a people with an outstanding culture, with a language similar to Czech. However, in fact, few people knew Russians and Russia from personal experience.
Visited Russia at that time Josef Dobrowski, in Russian libraries he spent several months looking for materials for his scientific works (Russian grammar ).
Josef Jungmann borrowed several Russian words for the Czech language (příroda, vzduch, průmysl, unylý, dikobraz).
In subsequent stages of the revival, romantic Russophilia developed ( Ladislav Čelakovský - Ohlas pisni ruských ).

The first critical response to Russian society was presented in his book Ohlas písní ruských Karel Havlicek Borowski. Borowski worked for some time as a teacher in Moscow.

„Především musíme od sebe děliti ruský národ od jeho vlády. Něco jiného jsou Rusové, naši slovanští bratří, národ veliký, dobromyslný, velmi schopný a čiperný, zachovalý ve staroslovanských dobrých obyčejích, národ s velikou budoucností, od kterého se i my, i všichni slabší kmenové slovanští pro budoucnost ještě mnohého dobrodiní nadíti můžeme; a něco jiného jest zase nynější ruská vláda, vláda to zcela dle cizích, nechvalitebných obyčejů chytře zosnovaná...“
Karel Havlíček Borovský: Obrazy z Rus

Czech migration to the Russian Empire

In 1867, a All-Russian ethnographic exhibition, where a delegation of 27 Czechs also arrived. Here an agreement was reached on the resettlement of Czechs to the Volyn province (now in Ukraine), to the Caucasus and Crimea. IN Russian Empire About 28,000 people moved in this way. They founded their own villages and were mainly engaged in agriculture. Most of the “Volyn” Czechs returned to their historical homeland in 1946.

At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Relatively many Czechs moved to Russia. Among them were entrepreneurs, skilled workers, musicians (in Russia at one time there were Czechs in almost every orchestra, even in the Tsar’s Opera), teachers Latin language and physical education. Small Czech colonies arose in different regions of Russia (with the largest center in Kyiv).

Czech legionnaires in Russia

A unique stage in Czech-Russian contacts is the activity of Czech legionnaires in Russia during the First World War and the Civil War.
Immediately after the outbreak of the First World War, many Czechs living in Russia began to found independent Czech military units. The so-called was founded. Česká druzina, which included captured Czech soldiers of the Austro-Hungarian army. The total number of Czech legionnaires in Russia is about 60,000 people.
The Czech “legions” were first part of the Russian army; on the Eastern Front they fought against Austria-Hungary.
At the end of the war a new Soviet authority gave the order for the Czechs to lay down their arms. The Czech legionnaires did not listen, which later drew them into the battles of the civil war. In Siberia they fought on the side of anti-Bolshevik forces, supported white governments. For some time they held in their hands Trans-Siberian Railway. In 1919, representatives of Czechoslovakia and Russia concluded a truce, and war-weary Czech soldiers were able to return home. They returned through Canada, the USA or the Far East for many months.

First Czechoslovak Republic

Between the two world wars, the Czechs experienced their first mass contact with Russian reality. In the perception of the USSR, two main types of views alternated: inspiration by the new Soviet society (Czech communists) and a critical attitude towards the USSR (legionnaires, many Czech politicians, the influence of Russian emigrants).

“Vyrostli jsme v rusofilství, ale milovali jsme to, co jsme neviděli.”
T.G.Masaryk

In the 20s and 30s. cultural contacts intensified. Leftist artists invited their Russian friends (Mayakovsky's visit) and themselves visited the Soviet Union.
Several groups of Czech communists even moved to the USSR in order to help build Soviet society.

Socialist Czechoslovakia

In World War II, part of Czechoslovakia was liberated by the Red Army, which is why, as a result of the Yalta Conference, it came under the political influence of the USSR.
After February putsch in 1948 Czechoslovakia became part of the socialist camp, a satellite country of the USSR.
Subordination Soviet Union caused major changes in Czech society. In the 50s Communism became the state ideology, and the shadow of repression fell on Czechoslovakia. Russian language was introduced in schools as a compulsory subject. Cultural contacts and official friendship between cities developed. Although part of the post-war society believed in the ideals of socialism, the Soviet onslaught gradually caused a decline in sincere interest in the USSR, and after the invasion and occupation in 1968, even hatred of everything Russian.

Occupation 1968

The events of 1968 represent the most tragic point in Czech-Russian relations and still have a negative impact on them.
In the spring of 1968, a nationwide movement for freedom began in Czechoslovakia, which went down in history under the name Prague Spring. In August, this movement was crushed by an invasion of five Warsaw Pact countries led by Moscow. 72 Czechoslovak citizens were killed

IN 1968-1992 in accordance with the agreement between the governments of the USSR and Czechoslovakia dated October 16, 1968, Soviet soldiers (Central Group of Forces) were located on the territory of Czechoslovakia, concentrated in several strategic directions. Many of them visited Czechoslovakia as part of their compulsory military service. Very few residents of Czechoslovakia helped them, but there were also villages where local people became friends with them (Russian youths, for example, helped them harvest the crops - one such village was nicknamed “Brezhneves”).
V.V. Putin, during an official visit to the Czech Republic in 2006, expressed his apologies for the occupation of Czechoslovakia.

Modernity

Only in modern times can we talk about Czech-Russian relations developing normally, mainly on the basis of economic relations. Although Substantial part Czech society is still negatively disposed towards Russia.

Diplomatic relations

Diplomatic relations until 2014 could be defined as good and stabilized. Anxiety in Lately evokes the Russian political approach to oil supplies to Europe.

„Tradičním partnerem pro českou zahraniční politiku zůstává samozřejmě Rusko. V přístupu k němu však klademe důraz na vyváženost, pragmatičnost, opatrnost, ale současně i aktivitu. Nedávný summit G-8 opět připomněl jednu z největších výzev, před nimiž Evropa stojí, a to energetickou bezpečnost. Ta má mnoho co do činění s dodávkami surovin právě z Ruska. Jde o velice citlivou záležitost a je nutné hledat taková řešení, která by vyvažovala všechna možná rizika a nenahrazovala závislost na jedné zemi závislostí jinou. “Toto téma a jeho dlouhodobé koncepční řešení zůstává jedním z hlavních úkolů současné české diplomacie.” A. Vondra: Česká zahraniční politika: tři principy, trojí směřování a tři témata

„Země jako Finnish nebo Česká republika, které disponují hlubokými znalostmi o Rusku, ale zároveň nejsou ruskou diplomacií vnímány jako země nepřátelské (na rozdíl od tří zemí Pobaltí a n ěkdy i Polska), mohou hrát roli zprostředkovatele mezi EU a RF.”
P. Kratochvil: Česká republika a Rusko: jak dál po rozšíření EU?

During state visit of V.V. Putin in Prague in 2006, the presidents of both countries emphasized the pragmatism of modern relations and the need to develop cooperation in the economic field.

„Putin: Minulost by neměla být využívána k rozdmýchávání protiruských nálad. Neneseme za minulost žádnou právní odpovědnost, ale mravní odpovědnost tu samozřejmě je.
Klaus: Děkuji prezidentovi Putinovi za tato slova. Já nevidím důvod, abych dnes v roce 2006 řešil to, co rozhodl Brežněv v roce 1968.

After the Russian-Ukrainian crisis

Modern Czech-Russian diplomatic relations are defined by four areas:

1. A single line of attitude between the European Union and the Russian Federation on some issues (for example, sanctions after the annexation of Crimea).
2. Strategic documents of the Czech Republic, especially concerning security and energy. http://www.vlada.cz/assets/ppov/brs/dokumenty/bezpecnostni-strategie-2015.pdf
3. Trade and economic interests of Czech entities on the Russian market. http://www.businessinfo.cz/cs/zahranicni-obchod-eu/teritorialni-informace-zeme/rusko.html
4. Contacts and cooperation at the “people-to-people” level (education, science, culture, tourism, etc.)

Relations between both states are not developing as well as before the Russian-Ukrainian crisis. However, the decisions and statements of some Czech politicians, including the President of the Czech Republic Milos Zeman, such as his state visit to celebrate Victory Day in Moscow in 2015, are exceptions among representatives of European politics. Many journalists interpret such actions as proof of the pro-Russian positions of our authorities.

Modern economic relations

Representatives of the Czech Republic and the Russian Federation achieved the conclusion of some important agreements, which subsequently led to successes in the economic field.
Much in mutual relations is changing in connection with the entry of the Czech Republic into the EU, but diplomats from both countries are trying to preserve what is beneficial for them.
The fact that in the early 90s. many Czech enterprises left the huge Russian market, which Czech analysts now consider a mistake.
But traditions are being renewed. Russians based on their previous experience trust Czech goods. The Czechs, in their opinion, are solid partners, compared to the American and Western European ones, their goods and services are not so expensive, and at the same time they are punctual suppliers.

Hundreds of companies have already opened their branches in the Russian Federation. It is especially important to establish contacts in the regions (Ekaterinburg, Murmansk, Komi...).
To become successful, you need to be present in Russia, open an office, and personally meet with partners. The exporter who is able to transfer production to the territory of the Russian Federation has a better chance.

Czech companies took part in many large projects (gasification of Kamchatka, modernization of metal-cutting machines in the Sverdlovsk region...).

Czech export to Russia

• cars and equipment different types for machine-building plants
• manufactured goods
• chemical products
• glass
• porcelain

Russian export to the Czech Republic

• oil and gas supply

Russians and Czech Republic

Glorious Russians in the Czech Republic

Famous Russians most often came to us because of their illnesses - they were treated at resorts. And now the clientele of many Czech resorts consists mostly of Russian guests.
Peter I visited the Czech Republic four times, commander Suvorov spent the night in Pilsen and Prague, Kutuzov- in Brno.
We also treated many Russian writers - Gogol visited Marienbad, Jesenik and Karlovy Vary, Turgenev visited Karlovy Vary, Goncharov- Marienbad. Dostoevsky stayed three days in Prague.

From musical contacts

In 1888 Chaikovsky conducted during concerts of his works in Prague, his companion was Antonin Dvorak.
In the 30s. 20th century Prokofiev visited the Czech Republic several times, presenting his works here.
Of the Czech composers who have been to Russia Leos Janacek, who organized the Russian circle in Brno, and thanks to which many works of Russian authors were performed in Moravia

Prague is the center of Russian emigration in the 20s. 20th century

In the 20s 20th century Prague became one of the centers of Russian emigration.
As part of the program Ruská pomocná akce Prime Minister Kramar decided to provide protection to some refugees from the ranks of the Russian intelligentsia. He provided university teachers, students, and journalists with the opportunity to work and get an education. There were plans to create a Russian university, but only a few faculties were opened. Three Russian gymnasiums, several publishing houses emerged, and newspapers and magazines were published. Organization Česko-ruská jednota financially supported famous emigrants. In total, about 25,000 emigrants of Russian origin lived in Czechoslovakia.
Russian emigration of the 20s. represents a significant scientific and cultural heritage. Founded in 1926 Prague Linguistic Circle, the most important community of linguists in the history of structuralism. Almost half of the members of the circle were Russians ().

Also arose in Prague Russian Foreign Historical Archive. Many of his most valuable materials were captured by the Soviet NKVD in 1945. The library of this archive still continues its activities as Slovanská knihovna.
Czechoslovakia failed to protect emigrants from the NKVD; Soviet state security entered Czechoslovakia at the end of the Second World War along with the Red Army. Many emigrants have already moved to Western Europe and the United States, but many of those who remained were arrested by the NKVD and forcibly taken to the USSR.

Modern Russian immigration

Currently, according to official data, about 16,500 Russians live in the Czech Republic.
The Czech Republic attracts Russian immigrants relatively high level life, security, strategic position between the West and the East, a similar language (Russians sometimes consider the Czech language a “copycat” of Russian), common history, as well as the already existing and developed “Russian enclave” in our country. In the Czech Republic you can easily settle down, develop a business, and get a good education. The emotional attitude of Russians towards the Czechs, in comparison with other peoples of Central Europe, is generally very positive.
Immigration centers: Prague (Dejvice, Hůrka), Karlovy Vary (area near the consulate)

Cultural life

Russian immigrants continue to develop their culture.
Several Russian magazines and newspapers are published different content and quality (“Russian Word”, “Czech Republic Today”, “Russian Czech Republic”, “Prague Lights”).
There are their own organizations, but there is no one platform where all Russians can meet. The Russian Center for Science and Culture operates in Prague (Na Zátorce 16, Prague 6), where Russian language courses are held, concerts are held, and specialists give lectures. There you can rent videotapes or books. The Russian Center is also located in the city of Ceske Budejovice. Russian shops in Prague – “Arbat”, “Russian Book” (Bubenečská 12, Prague 6), “Russian Salon” (Mánesova ulice)
Branches of Russian higher education institutions operate in Prague educational institutions, there are also average primary schools and kindergartens for Russian clients.

Russkiy Mir Foundation

Two Russian centers of the Russian World Foundation have been opened in the Czech Republic: West Bohemian University http://ruskecentrum.zcu.cz/, Masaryk University