July 15, 2024 - the home city of Anton Chekhov paid tribute to 120 years since the day the world-famous playwright and short-story writer passed away in Badenweiler, Germany.

On this day residents of Taganrog traditionally participate in the flower laying ceremony at the foot of Chekhov monument.

The ceremony brought together Taganrog Local Government officials, City Council deputies, students, residents and guests of Taganrog. In their speeches, Taganrog City Manager Andrey Fateyev, director of Taganrog Chekhov Memorial Literature Museum Victoria Kondratyeva, and Freeman of the City of Taganrog Tamara Buvalko drew attention of the public to the outstanding importance, up-to-dateness and popularity of Anton Chekhov's legacy.

"Paying tribute to the memory of Anton Chekhov, let us remember, quietly and without fanfare, this inconceivable and complicated person who is yet close to us. The person with a subtle mental organization, vulnerable and infinitely ironic, with a very special sense of humor. The man of great kindness and openness, who shouldered the burdens of his numerous relatives throughout life, built schools and roads for peasants, laid out gardens, treated people for their illnesses, and helped his Taganrog in every possible way. The man who bravely fought his terrible malady for many years. And yet the man who wrote immortal works, a true timeless creator. Thank you for everything, Anton Pavlovich! You will live forever in our hearts!" wrote Taganrog City Council President and City Executive Inna Titarenko on her VKontakte page.

Among the other Chekhov-focused events are movie screenings, workshops, sightseeing tours, etc. Some of the events were launched in advance of the commemorative date: for example, an exhibition of children's Chekhov-related artworks from the sister city of Jining, China has been open to the public since July 5 and will be available at Gorky Children's Library until August 5.