A flower-laying ceremony was held at the monument to the outstanding Russian writer Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky at the «Magtymguly Pyragy» cultural and park complex.

The event organised in honour of the 204th anniversary of birth of the great classic, attracted representatives of diplomatic missions, public figures, as well as teachers and students of the Joint Turkmen-Russian secondary comprehensive school named after A.S. Pushkin.

Addressing the audience, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Turkmenistan Ivan Volynkin noted:

– Last year, the first monument to Dostoyevsky in Turkmenistan was unveiled here, on the alley of famous writers in the new «Magtymguly Pyragy» cultural and park complex. The monuments erected in their honour represent the friendship, brotherhood, and good neighbourliness of peoples, as advocated by the outstanding Turkmen poet and philosopher, after whom this place is named.

The ambassador emphasised that ideas of the Turkmen philosopher are in spirit consonant with one of the own slogans of Dostoevsky: «Beauty will save the world».

–These words contain profound meaning, as the author was primarily referring to inner, spiritual beauty, whose life-giving power is capable of transforming humanity. The decision of our Turkmen friends to erect a monument to Dostoevsky here demonstrates their recognition of the enormous contribution of Russian literature to world culture.

In conclusion, the Ambassador expressed gratitude to the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov and the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for the decision to perpetuate the memory of Dostoevsky in Ashgabat.

The highlight of the event was a literary and musical composition prepared by senior students from the Joint Turkmen-Russian secondary comprehensive school named after A.S. Pushkin. Scenes from famous works of Fyodor Mikhailovich served as a symbolic embodiment of the ideas the author sought to convey and in which he sincerely believed.

Global recognition of Dostoevsky is undeniable. His works have been translated into over a hundred languages and firmly hold the top spot in publications in Russia and abroad. Turkmenistan also has its admirers for work of Dostoevsky. For example, relief sculpture master Alexander Kashirskiy created a bronze portrait of Fyodor Mikhailovich in honour of the 200th anniversary of classic writer.