In the morning, on the 150th birth anniversary of the great Russian writer
Anton Chekhov, the citizens of Taganrog paid tribute to their great countryman.
Despite snow and cold weather, many fans of Chekhov came to lay down flowers, carrying small branches of cherry trees that Anton Chekhov loved so much. High school and elementary school students all dressed in 19th century-style recreated the ambiance of the Chekhov-time Taganrog.
Among the participants of the ceremony were numerous guests of Taganrog - politicians, literary critics, writers and artists, Consul General of Ukraine Valery Plokhiy and Consul General of the Republic of Romania Ionescu Cornel, delegations of sister cities
Badenweiler led by mayor Karl-Eugen Engler,
Khartsyzsk led by Valery Dubovoy and
Mariupol led by vice-mayor Lyubomir Paliy, deputies of State Duma, Oblast Law Council,
Taganrog City Duma.
In his speech, mayor
Nikolay Fedyanin said: "We cannot not to love Chekhov. He is very important to us as a great writer and as a person who has done a lot for the city of Taganrog, who until his last day cared for the well-being of Taganrog citizens and prosperity of his small homeland. Every corner of every street is the historical downtown is directly related to his name, the spirit of Chekhov is felt in every street and every house. Our common obligation is to preserve and to multiply the beauty and the unique character of our city, to realize the dreams of our great countryman. Chekhov always said that a person comes into this world to do good things. Let us follow the precepts of Anton Pavlovich and do good things together. Congratulations, Taganrog!"
