for your freedom and ours
Why the MAGNIFICENT EIGHT?
The name of this site pays tribute to the eight brave Russians who protested in Red Square in August 1968 against the occupation of Czechoslovakia. They were beaten, imprisoned, sent to colonies, or hidden away in psychiatric hospitals.
It was clear beforehand that it would end this way. Yet they went out to protest against injustice—for people they didn’t even know.
At the time, they held hand-painted banners; the inscription in the header is from one of them. It unites all those who—with or without weapons—resist brutality, lack of freedom, and injustice.
We are fortunate to know the names and faces of those eight brave individuals from Red Square—you can find them below. But out there, others are fighting against a criminal regime, risking their lives for their freedom and ours, and often no one knows about them. That is why our project was created.
Viktor Fainberg
Vadim Delone
Vladimir Dremliuga
Larisa Bogoraz
Natalya Gorbanevskaya
Konstantin Babitsky
Tatyana Baeva
Pavel Litvinov
“It is important to know that not everyone remained silent.”
Natalya Gorbanevskaya
“When shame raises its heavy banner,
Enveloping the entire sleeping land in horror;
When every living thing seeks a hiding place—
Someone must shout ‘Acharay!’”
Viktor Fainberg
BE PART OF THE RESISTANCE MOVEMENT
We thank everyone who has participated or is participating in the development of our project through interest and favor, financial support, sharing, invention, advice, and help—in short, everyone who does not remain indifferent. Your help and tolerance are invaluable. The significance of our project—and others like it—far exceeds the authors with all their shortcomings. For that, we thank those who fight despite everything.
for your freedom and ours
© MAGNIFICENT EIGHT 2022 – 2026
