Centenary of the October Revolution

“The 100th anniversary of the October Revolution is celebrated throughout the country on November 7,” the Zvezda television channel broadcasts on this day ^[2] . More than a hundred events were officially recorded on the eve, although, as noted in Le Figaro , “a significant number of them contrast with the Kremlin’s sheer restraint regarding the centenary” ^[3] .

On this day, in Moscow, on the Revolution Square, a demonstration and rally was announced with the participation of the Communist Party , the Left Front movement, the DPA , the Union of Soviet Officers , the Komsomol of the Russian Federation , representatives of foreign parties and organizations, including China, Vietnam, North Korea, Ukraine, Syria , Latin America ^{[4] [5]} . Among the slogans are “Long live the socialist revolution” and “We are proud of the Land of the Soviets” ^[6] . According to media reports, those who came to the rally carried red flags , portraits of Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin , revolutionary and patriotic Soviet songs sounded during the march ^{[7] [8]} . The rally was attended by delegations from more than 80 countries of the world ^[9] . Also in Moscow on that day, a solemn march took place on Red Square, dedicated to the anniversary of the parade on November 7, 1941 ^{[6] [10]} .

Chairman of the State Council and Council of Ministers, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba Raul Castro congratulated the leader of the Communist Party Gennady Zyuganov on the 100th anniversary of the October Revolution ^[11] .

A solemn procession from Finland Station to the Aurora cruiser and a festive rally near the Aurora in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution took place in St. Petersburg on November 7 at 17:30, in which more than five thousand people took part. Dozens of left-wing organizations from around the world took part in the events of the St. Petersburg branch of the Communist Party: representatives of communist and workers parties from Germany, China, Nepal, Palestine, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Italy, Finland, Turkey and countries took part under the red banners and revolutionary slogans Latin America ^[12] .

Alexander Lukashenko , President of Belarus, where November 7 is a public holiday - October Revolution Day , congratulated compatriots on this day with the 100th anniversary of the October Revolution ^{[13] [14]} .

In 2016, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin signed a decree on the preparation and conduct of events dedicated to the centennial of the 1917 revolution ^[15] . However, shortly before the anniversary, the press secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov said that the Kremlin did not plan to hold events in his honor ^[16] . An article by the British historian Catherine Meridale , published in the Guardian , suggested that the current Russian government would be “rather inconvenient” to celebrate this day pompously as in Soviet times, because the 1917 revolution was a “struggle against the injustice and extraordinary privileges of the rich” ^[17] .

The XIX International Meeting of Communist and Workers Parties, held on November 2–4 in Russia in St. Petersburg, was timed to coincide with the anniversary ^[18] . Other events dedicated to the anniversary include the VI St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum ^[19] , the All-Russian action “The Night of Arts” on November 5 ^[20] , held on November 6 in Moscow with the participation of more than 130 foreign delegations of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation International Congress of Left Forces “October 1917 - a breakthrough to socialism ” ^{[5] [21]} , expositions and a large-scale exhibition in the Hermitage ^[22] . Throughout the year, exhibition projects related to the theme of the 1917 revolution took place in museums throughout Russia ^[23] .

In a welcome telegram at the international forum of leftist forces “October 1917 - a breakthrough to socialism” on November 6 in Moscow in connection with the anniversary, Syrian President Bashar Assad , leader of the Arab Socialist Revival Party (Ba'ath), noted that the Russian October Revolution of 1917 inspires a lot of people in different countries to the struggle for social justice ^[25] .

In anticipation of the VTsIOM anniversary, a study was conducted “100 Years of the October Revolution: a Historical Perspective” ^[26] .

Events related to the anniversary were held in other countries.

• England. Exhibitions at the British Library and the Royal Academy of Fine Arts ^[27] . The auction was timed to coincide with the auction "Art of the Soviet Union" auction house Sotheby's ^[28] .
• Venezuela. The composition of the organizing committee of the celebrations included several members of the government ^[29] . The President of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, on the eve of his anniversary promised to celebrate it widely: “The people of Venezuela will celebrate the centenary of the Bolshevik revolution, we will take to the streets and shout“ Long live Lenin! ”,” He said ^[30] .
• PRC. On September 26, 2017, a seminar “October Revolution and Socialism with Chinese Characteristics” was held in Beijing, at which Liu Qibao , a member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee , emphasized the need for a deep understanding of the great significance and far-reaching influence of the October Revolution ^[31] . An exhibition of the State Historical Museum of Russia opened in the National Museum of China in Beijing, the leitmotif of which was the image of Vladimir Lenin ^{[32] [33]} .
• Cuba. On the occasion of the anniversary, numerous events were held. A ceremony was held at the memorial of the Soviet soldier-internationalist in Havana. Two stamps dedicated to the events of a hundred years ago were also redeemed. Chairman of the State Council and Council of Ministers, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party Raul Castro, Deputy Chairman of the State Council, Second Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party Jose Ramon Machado Ventura , First Deputy Chairman of the State Council and Council of Ministers Miguel Dias-Canel and others attended the cultural and political event in the Havana Theater named after Karl Marx, and others members of the government and prominent party functionaries. In his speech, Machado Ventura noted that the October Revolution “marked the beginning of a new era in the history of mankind and inspired revolutions in China, Vietnam and Cuba” ^{[34] [35] [11] [36]} .
• USA. Art exhibition dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the October Revolution ^[37] . On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the October Revolution in Russia, the White House press service issued a statement stating that “the Bolshevik revolution led to the creation of the Soviet Union and the dark decades of repressive communism, a political philosophy incompatible with freedom, prosperity and a dignified attitude towards human life” . On the “National Day of the Victims of Communism,” the statement says, “we recall those who died and all who continue to suffer under communism ... Our country confirms its unwavering determination to light the light of freedom for all who deserve a more free future” ^{[38 ]} .

• On November 3, 2017, the Ministry of Communications and Informatization of Belarus issued a postage stamp “100 years of the October Revolution” (circulation of 42 thousand copies) ^[39] .
• On November 7, 2017, Donbass Post put into circulation an artistic postage stamp (14,000 copies) and a First Day envelope dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution ^[40] .
• In Russia, a block of 4 brands “The Great Russian Revolution” ^[41]
• On the eve of the 100th anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution, the Transnistrian Central Bank issued commemorative banknotes in denominations of 1 ruble and 5 rubles (5 thousand pieces of each denomination) and commemorative coins made of silver with a nominal value of 10 rubles (circulation of 250 pcs.) ^[42] ., 1 and 3 rubles (nickel plated steel) ^[43]
• Commemorative medals, badges, souvenir coins, calendars, magnets, watches, pens, key rings and other commemorative, award and souvenir products were also issued.

In Russia and Belarus, time capsules were opened with messages to descendants, laid in the second half of the last century, and, continuing the tradition, laid new ones ^{[44] [45] [46]} .

• Russian revolution
• Day of the Great October Socialist Revolution
• 1000th anniversary of the Baptism of Russia

• Russia marks the 100th anniversary of the Great October Revolution (TASS, 11/07/2017)
• The fight goes on! // News of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, 11/07/2017.