Historical exhibition “Lithuania and the Czech Republic: from the renewal of relations to close diplomatic cooperation”
The exhibition covers the period from the Velvet Revolution of 1989 to the present day and presents the most important moments in the development of bilateral relations – from symbolic gestures and diplomatic recognition to strategic cooperation in Europe and the transatlantic space.
The exhibition, based on archival documents, photographs, and facsimiles of contemporary press publications, reveals the key stages in the development of relations between Lithuania and Czechoslovakia, and later between Lithuania and the Czech Republic. It presents Lithuanian ties with Czech dissident Vaclav Havel, Lithuania’s reaction to the Velvet Revolution, and Czech solidarity actions after the events of March 11, 1990, and January 1991.
The exhibition also documents the restoration of diplomatic relations in 1991 and their strengthening in subsequent years: Prof. Vytautas Landsbergis’ meeting with President Havel in Prague, the dynamics of bilateral visits, the NATO summit in Prague in 2002, where Lithuania was invited to become a member of the Alliance, and growing political and cultural cooperation.
A significant part of the exhibition is devoted to V. Havel’s visit to Lithuania in 1996 and his award of an honorary doctorate from Vilnius University – a symbolic expression of the shared values of Lithuania and the Czech Republic.
The authors of the exhibition are Doc. Dr. Dalia Bukelevičiūtė (Faculty of History, Vilnius University) and Doc. Dr. Lubošas Švecas (Institute of International Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University).
The exhibition was initiated by the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Vilnius. The exhibition is part of the series of events “A Year with the Czech Republic” organized by the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania.
The opening of the exhibition will take place on October 15, 2025, at 4 p.m. The opening ceremony will be attended by Karel Tesar, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Czech Republic, and author of the exhibition dr. Dalia Bukelevičiūtė, Associate Professor at Vilnius University.
The exhibition is fostered by Aistė Žemaitytė, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Political Science and Diplomacy.
The exhibition will be open to the public at the Faculty of Political Science and Diplomacy of Vytautas Magnus University from October 15 to November 15, 2025.
