'Go home, Ivan!': Protesters gather at Russian Embassy on anniversary of Warsaw Pact invasion

The Czech government Tuesday night launched a campaign to commemorate the 56th anniversary of the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia. Titled "My 68", the event kicked off with a powerful message projected onto the government's office building, the Straka Academy.

The Foundation for Ukraine prepared the projection displaying the words "Go home, Ivan! Go home, Russia!" and showed it from 9:30 p.m. until dawn. Several hundred people also gathered at dusk at the Russian embassy in Prague to commemorate the anniversary of the invasion and to express solidarity with Ukraine.

"The invasion of foreign troops shows how fragile freedom is, especially when it is made conditional by a foreign aggressive regime,"  Government Office representative Tomáš Foltýn said. He also linked the reminder of Czech history to the current events in Ukraine, which is currently under attack by Russia.

The campaign also includes a day of reflection and cultural engagement called "NeverMore 68". The event, held at Prague 7’s Výstaviště today, will feature exhibitions, debates, and performances that explore the impact of the 1968 invasion and its relevance today.

Among the activities planned for the event are debates on "Disinformation in Today's World" hosted by the Institute of Independent Journalism, and music performances by indie-rock band I Love You Honey Bunny and the group Tamara. Singer Ester Valtrová will also perform 1960s music.

The program also includes a debate on the impact of digital platforms on media and an interactive game where visitors can distinguish between real and AI-generated historical photos. Other activities include augmented and virtual reality experiences related to political imprisonment and an immersive audiovisual guide covering the year from January 1968 to January 1969.

"We are glad that the Government Office shares a similar view as the donors who actively support the armed forces of Ukraine – in particular, that the devastating war in Ukraine can be very easily ended. All that is needed is for the troops of the Russian Federation to withdraw beyond their own borders. It is as simple as that," said Martin Ondráček, one of project backers, in a press release from the Government Office.

The campaign includes a series of videos created by graphic designer Jozef Dobrík, known for the "Gift for Putin" project. "We look at history through the eyes of an individual, because authentic stories and emotions open up space for empathy," Dobrík explained.

"It can be a way to better understand our society as a whole, an inspiration to reinforce one's own perception of freedom as an important value, and a way to view the fate of people who are experiencing something similar a few hundred kilometers away from our borders," he added.

As part of the campaign, public authorities will share videos and social media posts online, and the public is encouraged to contribute their stories using the hashtag #muj68.

This evening, Czech President Petr Pavel will attend a special screening of the film Waves (Vlny) at the Government Office. The film, directed by Jiří Mádl, is based on the true story of a group of journalists from Czechoslovak Radio who risked their lives to provide independent news during the crucial moments of the invasion in August 1968.

The newly released Czech thriller takes audiences back to the turbulent events of the Prague Spring and the subsequent Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia. The story focuses on the months leading up to the rebellion, a pivotal moment in Czech history. The film had its world premiere at the 58th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.

The commemoration of the Warsaw Pact coincides with the recent announcement that the EU will allocate part of the revenue from frozen Russian assets to purchase ammunition supplies for Ukraine from Czechia. This allocation will enable the acquisition of hundreds of thousands of large-caliber ammunition rounds.