Marking the 200th anniversary of Fyodor Dostoevsky: The Presidential Library to discuss whether a crime can be justified by thousands of good deeds

On April 16, 2021, at 11:00 Moscow time, the Presidential Library will host a video lecture as part of the Knowledge of Russia project. It will propose an answer to the question of whether a crime can be justified by thousands of good deeds. It is the third event in the series of lectures "Fyodor Dostoevsky - Talking of Values", devoted to the 200th anniversary of the world-famous writer, which will be celebrated on November 11, 2021.

Anna Dostoevskaya, Fyodor Dostoevsky’s descendant, will attend the event.

The video lecture will be free. The meeting will be held remotely and will be broadcasted live on the Presidential Library's portal in the Live broadcasts section in accordance with the program of live events, on the institution's YouTube channel and the VKontakte social network.

Dmitry Bogach, Candidate of Philology, Senior Researcher of the South Ural State Humanitarian Pedagogical University, will analyze the prominent novel Crime and Punishment, a masterpiece of world literature. This year, the novel marks the 155th anniversary. It was issued in the magazine Russkiy Vestnik in 1866. Dmitry Bogach will tell about problems highlighted by the novel and the public response to the complex and controversial book.

Besides, the video lecture participants will learn about Dostoevsky's answers to the issues spotlighted in the novel: what to do when there is no way out; whether a crime can be justified by thousands of good deeds; whether the main hero repented of his crime; whether all is fair in achieving a great goal.

More information about Fyodor Dostoevsky is available in the Presidential Library’s materials, which are presented in the special digital collection Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821-1881) [The World of Dostoevsky]. It includes copies of the texts of the writer's works and materials about his life and career.

Also, the Presidential Library's portal promotes a video lecture by Doctor of Philology, Professor Konstantin Barsht Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky: A Creative History in Drawings and Handwritten Documents. It reveals interesting information about one of the most significant works of the classic and presents digital images of Fyodor Mikhailovich's rough notebooks.

The cycle of lectures "Fyodor Dostoevsky – Talking of Values" was launched on February 19, 2021. In the first event, Dmitry Bogach told how the classic showed the value of human life and refuted the stereotype that Fyodor Dostoevsky is a pessimistic writer. The second video lecture explained how the writer’s family values, based on Christian principles, were formed. It told about the strength of the relationship between parents and children, as well as between husband and wife.

Interactive lessons and video lectures are regularly held in the Presidential Library. More information about them is available on the institution's portal in the Multimedia lessons section and in the Video lectures for school section, which features records of lectures and open lessons held in the Presidential Library.

Accreditation of media representatives is until 11:00 April 15, 2021.

Please forward applications for accreditation following the attached form marked “Media Accreditation” to the following e-mail addresses: media@prlib.ru, titunina@prlib.ru Kristina Titunina, tel.: (812) 305-16-21, ext. 781; mob. +7 (999) 218-05-98.

The letter should contain the full name, date and place of birth, passport data (series, number, place of registration), a list of carry-on equipment, contact phone numbers, the name of the media.

We draw the attention of the media representatives that it is necessary to forward applications for accreditation and arrive at the event in advance.

Entrance to the Presidential Library is carried out only by prior registration and upon showing a passport: for media representatives - through entrance № 2, participants and guests of the event - through entrance № 1.

In order to reduce the risks of the spread of a new coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the use of personal protective equipment during the event is mandatory for all attendees.