Spolu/Razem. Kontakty československého a polského disentu v 80. letech

Friendship that erased borders - such was the cooperation of the Polish and Czech anti-communist opposition. Although the secret police tried to prevent the meetings, mutual solidarity was stronger. Thus, a unique international opposition group, Polish-Czechoslovak Solidarity, was born. The first contacts between the environment of Charter 77 and the Polish KOR were mediated by, among others, Andrzej S. Jagodziński, a bohemian and translator of the works of Václav Havel, Josef Škvorecký or Jiří Gruš, later a diplomat and journalist. One of the most active members of Polish-Czechoslovak solidarity was Mirosław Jasiński, art historian, diplomat, politician and today director of the city gallery in Wrocław. Their discussion will recall crucial moments of Polish-Czechoslovak opposition cooperation, of which they have a number of personal memories.

The meeting is moderated by the historian and director of the Museum of XX. century Petr Blažek.

Before the discussion, the exhibition "Havel and Poland" will be opened at 18:00 in the Foyer of the Metro Palace (Národní 25). Václav Havel was one of the first participants in the now-legendary secret meetings of Czechoslovak and Polish dissidents on the border in the Krkonoše mountains, for Polish society he is one of the symbols of democratic changes in Central Europe. The exhibition provides an overview of Václav Havel's contacts with Poland before 1989 and after the fall of communism, as well as an important chapter in the history of Czech-Polish relations in modern history. The exhibition will last until November 27, 2024.