Today in the center of Moscow celebrations dedicated to the 140th anniversary of the liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman yoke during the Russo-Turkish war of 1877-1878 took place. Representatives of Russia and Bulgaria, scientists, leaders of the most famous Russian museums participated in various events organized by the RMHS (the Russian Military Historical Society).

The program began with the laying of flowers to the Chapel-monument to the Heroes of Plevna. Protopriest Alexander Saltykov, the rector of the church, served а Requiem Mass dedicated to the fallen Russian soldiers.

After that, the exhibition "Memory of the war. 140 years of the Russo-Turkish Liberation War of 1877-1878" was opened. The exposition was prepared by the Russian Military Historical Society in cooperation with the Center for the Preservation and Socialization of Cultural Heritage (Bulgaria). The exhibition consists of 16 fragments, each dedicated to the significant Bulgarian monument to the Russian people, who fought for Bulgarian freedom and independence. 

At the opening of the exhibition, Scientific Director of the RMHS Mikhail Myagkov mentioned that the memory of the Russian soldiers’ acts of bravery is a platform for the development of Russian-Bulgarian relationships.

Mikhail Myagkov said, “The Russo-Turkish war for us is a part of the heroic past, the memory of helping the Slav brothers, a revenge for the Crimean War, a serious step towards strengthening Russia on the Balkan Peninsula. For Bulgaria, it is part of national unity and national identity. It is symbolic that this exhibition is opened in the year of the 200th anniversary of Alexander II birth. Monuments remain in Bulgaria despite all political tensions. People's memory of the holy feat of Russian soldiers, who liberated Bulgaria, is immortal. This memory allows us to think about the future, helps us to establish cultural, scientific, and spiritual ties. It will help our people overcome all obstacles”. 

Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria in the Russian Federation, Boyko Kotsev, thanked the Russian Military Historical Society for strengthening international cooperation.

Boyko Kotsev said, “This exhibition is dedicated to the event that unites Bulgaria and Russia. I want to thank Vladislav Kononov, Executive Director of the RMHS, for the organization of the exhibition, as well as the Bulgarian side, the Center for the Preservation and Socialization of Cultural Heritage Foundation. This exhibition shows that there are holy, sacred places of heroic victories, the memory of which is carefully preserved in Bulgaria. This is very important especially nowadays when we are facing a treacherous attack from globalism”.

At the opening ceremony of the exposition statements were also made by following people: the Ambassador-at-large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, the Chairman of the Scientific Council of the RMHS Vladimir Churov, Director of the Bulgarian Foundation "Center for Preservation and Socialization of Cultural Heritage" Plamena Zayachka, Executive Director of the Russian Historical Society Konstantin Mogilevsky. Among the other guests there were the Director of the State Historical Museum Alexei Levykin, the Director of the State Central Museum of Contemporary History of Russia Irina Velikanova, the member of the National Initiative Committee for the commemoration of the 140th anniversary of the Russo-Turkish Liberation War of 1877-1878 and the restoration of the Bulgarian statehood Rumen Petkov.

At the end of the opening ceremony of the exhibition, in the conference hall of the Russian Military Historical Society, took place an international scientific conference "the Russian-Turkish War of 1877-1878 and its reflection in art and culture". Leading historians from Russia and Bulgaria took part in the meeting.

Reference about the activities of The Russian Military Historical Society