Robert Ivanovich Rozhdestvensky (Russian: Ро́берт Ива́нович Рожде́ственский; 20 June 1932 – 19 August 1994) was a Soviet-Russian poet and songwriter who broke with socialist realism in the 1950s–1960s during the Khrushchev Thaw and, along with such poets as Andrei Voznesensky, Yevgeny Yevtushenko, and Bella Akhmadulina, pioneered a newer, fresher, and freer style of poetry in the Soviet Union.

His father, Stanislav Nikodimovich Petkevich, was a Polish man employed by the OGPU, NKVD until drafted in 1941.

Whilst in the army he obtained the rank of lieutenant overseeing his own group in the 123rd Rifle Division(ru) He died in battle in Latvia on February 22, 1945.

His mother, Vera Pavlovna Fedorova (1913-2001), was the director of a rural elementary school and was studying medicine at a specialised institute.

Rozhdestvensky's first poem "My dad goes camping with a rifle"..." (С винтовкой мой папа уходит в поход)[6] was published in The Omsk Truth (Омская правда) July 8, 1941) In 1943 he studied at the military music school.

His mother attempted to bring him with her to become a "Son of the Regiment(ru)" a child living in the army.

Rozhdestvensky attempted to enter the Maxim Gorky Literature Institute in the same year but wasn't accepted.

During the following period until 1964 Rozhdestvensky and his contemporaries became known for the transgressive mildly anti-Soviet work which they would perform in front of live audiences in stadiums.

In 1955, while practicing in Altai, Rozhdestvensky met with a student at the conservatory, Alexander Flyarkovsky, with whom he created his first song - "Your Window".

"Khrushchev cried out in a fury:" Comrade Rozhdestvensky, it's time for you to stand under the banners of your fathers!

He worked there, translating the poems of local poets into Russian ... "[7] In 1966, Rozhdestvensky was the first to receive the Golden Wreath from the Struga Poetry Evenings.

It presented documentary stories discussing various often topics including the west and was often marred by state propaganda[8] Rozhdestvensky appeared at the Cannes Film Festival as a member of the jury.

He first appeared at the festival in 1968, he returned in 1973 and supported La Grande Bouffe and its director Marco Ferreri, his final visit was in 1979 where he persuaded Françoise Sagan to give the prize to Andrei Konchalovsky's Siberiade.