Comment by the Information and Press Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding events related to 200 years since the birth of Taras Shevchenko in Russia

According to the plan approved by the Presidents of Russia and Ukraine in December 2013, events devoted to 200 years since the birth of Taras Shevchenko are being held in Russia.

The opening ceremony of the 10th International Festival: Shevchenko's Spring, which is held by Ukrainians from the South of Russia every year with the participation of cultural bodies of the region and foreign guests, was held on the 11 March 2014 in Taganrog. Then celebrations were held in Shakhty, where flowers and wreaths were laid at the monument to Taras Shevchenko, located on a namesake street.

The best libraries of Rostov-On-Don, one of which is named after Kobzar, organised poetry soirées for their readers. The Don State Public Library and the Rostov regional Ukrainian national and cultural autonomy, supported by the Civic Chamber of the Rostov Region organised a contest of creative works of different genres, where all interested people were free to participate – more than 80.

The Southern Federal University organised a conference consisting of two sections: "Literary parlour" and "Taras Shevchenko as an artist".

The celebration culminated in a concert in Rostov-On-Don on the 22 March, where creative teams from the Rostov and Donetsk regions gave presentations.

The popularity of the events devoted to 200 years since the birth of Taras Shevchenko among Russian nationals is a vivid demonstration of good-neighbourly relations between our two Slavic people.

31 March 2014