Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks at a ceremony to unveil a monument to Alexander Pushkin, Caracas, February 20, 2024

Madam Carmen Teresa Melendez Rivas,

Mr Ernesto Villegas,

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great honour and pleasure for me to attend this ceremony held in Ezequiel Zamora Park to unveil a monument to the great Russian poet, Alexander Pushkin. This work of art has been created by sculptor Vitaly Shanov, a member of the Moscow Union of Artists.

I would like to express gratitude to the Caracas City Hall and the Venezuelan authorities for supporting this initiative of the Russian Military Historical Society and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia. Now that the West is mindlessly rewriting history, destroying monuments and cancelling Russian culture, we, together with our Venezuelan friends, continue to respect historical memory and convey it to new generations.

Pushkin was not only a great poet who created the modern Russian language but also a diplomat, a thinker and a patriot. He wrote: “On my honour I swear to you that I would not wish another homeland or history than that of our ancestors.”

I have no doubt that Venezuelan patriots have the same feelings for their beautiful country. Alexander Pushkin was a contemporary of Simon Bolivar, an outstanding Venezuelan statesman, military leader and politician. Both had the same ideals – freedom, equality and fraternity – and both loyally served their country.

The name of Simon Bolivar has become the symbol of struggle for freedom and independence both within and beyond Latin America. Alexander Pushkin immortalised the glorious deeds of the national hero of Venezuela by writing about the “broad-brimmed Bolivar,” a hat that became known in Russian fashion as a symbol of progressive ideals. Today, Moscow has a monument to Simon Bolivar, which was unveiled last year in the presence of Caracas Mayor Carmen Melendez.

The values which Pushkin and Bolivar upheld have not lost their significance today. Our countries are at the forefront of the struggle for the right of all nations to choose freedom, justice and respect for their history and traditions.

I am confident that the monument to Pushkin, which has been unveiled today, will adorn Caracas and will serve as material evidence of close ties of friendship and mutual sympathy between our nations.

There is no doubt that it will become a centre of attraction for our compatriots residing here, as well as for people from other Latin American countries who visit your beautiful capital.