The monument became part of the Turgenev Block architectural and museum compound, which includes the writer’s museum-house and adjacent garden and park on Ostozhenka Street in Moscow.
The sculpture is by National Artist of the Russian Federation Sergei Kazantsev.
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Speech at the unveiling ceremony for Ivan Turgenev monument
President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Friends,
First of all, let me greet you on the 200th anniversary of the birth of Ivan Turgenev, a great Russian writer. It is impossible to imagine Russian classical literature without him.
Celebrations marking this remarkable and wonderful anniversary are underway in the classic’s homeland in Orel, in the famous Turgenev reserve Spasskoye Lutovinovo, and all across Russia. This event is also marked abroad.
We have gathered today for the unveiling of Ivan Turgenev monument in Moscow. It was erected in the historical place closely connected to the Moscow period in the writer’s biography. Next to it is an old mansion where Turgenev lived when he visited his mother. His friends and contemporaries used to come here.
We have just discussed this with Mr Sobyanin [Mayor of Moscow] – surprisingly, this building in the centre of Moscow has remained intact. It just looks like the work of Providence, it is a miracle. Thank God for it and that we were able to arrange an exhibition, and open the Turgenev House-Museum.
Its exhibition is unparalleled in many ways: true artefacts of the era will be showcased here, new opportunities will arise for holding exhibits, concerts, educational programmes to learn about the writer’s works.
We know that he spent many years abroad: many masterpieces of Turgenev’s prose were conceived there, whereas his translations [from Russian into foreign languages] gave the world the most renowned works of Russian literature.
The greatness of his personality and talent had been noted by his contemporaries, outstanding authors of the 19th century. Thus, George Sand wrote to Turgenev that they all must become his apprentices.
Meanwhile, Ivan Turgenev always remained a Russian, praising the beauty of the native tongue, the nature, the grandeur and soul of our people. He remained a Russian writer and a Russian man.
One of the most-read authors of his time, he reached out to the people, their sentiments and feelings, true eternal values, and this is the reason his works will always enjoy a great following.
It is our duty to preserve the classic’s legacy because Turgenev’s works are indeed not just our national cultural heritage but also that of the world. I am confident that the new monument that has appeared on the map of Moscow sights, and the Turgenev Museum-House will serve this noble cause.
Thank you.