A monument to Russia’s first president, Boris Yeltsin, was unveiled in Yekaterinburg on February 1.
A monument to Russia’s first president, Boris Yeltsin, was unveiled in Yekaterinburg on February 1. At the ceremony, current President Dmitry Medvedev said Russia owed a debt to Yeltsin for not turning the country from the course of reform during very hard times in its history.
Speaking at the ceremony, Naina Yeltsin recalled that most of Boris Yeltsin’s life was connected with Sverdlovsk, now Yekaterinburg. “Our family’s most cherished memories are also related to this city because it was here we met, became friends, fell in love, got married and lived together for over 50 years,” Naina Yeltsin recalled with tears in her eyes.
The monument, a 10-meter stele of white Urals marble, was installed at the Demidov business center where the Yeltsin Presidential Center will open in 2011.
According to President Medvedev, the monument symbolizes the best traits of Boris Yeltsin. “Resoluteness and strength of will - these are what this monument stands for.”
“It is great that the events marking the birthday of Boris Yeltsin start here, in the Urals, where his political career began and where he developed as a statesman,” President Medvedev said.
Medvedev (center) at the ceremony to unveil the monument to Boris Yeltsin in Yekaterinburg. Background from right: Sverdlovsk Region Governor Alexander Misharin, Yeltsin’s widow Naina and Russian human rights ombudsman Vladimir Lukin. From left: Yeltsin’s grandson Boris Yeltsin Jr. and daughters Yelena Okulova and Tatyana Yumasheva.
Medvedev (center) at the ceremony to unveil the monument to Boris Yeltsin in Yekaterinburg. Background from right: Sverdlovsk Region Governor Alexander Misharin, Yeltsin’s widow Naina and Russian human rights ombudsman Vladimir Lukin. From left: Yeltsin’s grandson Boris Yeltsin Jr. and daughters Yelena Okulova and Tatyana Yumasheva.
President Dmitry Medvedev laying flowers at the monument to Boris Yeltsin.
President Dmitry Medvedev and Yeltsin’s widow, Naina. Right: Sverdlovsk Region Governor Alexander Misharin.
President Dmitry Medvedev and Yeltsin’s widow, Naina.
Boris Yeltsin was born on February 1, 1931 in the village of Butka in the Talitsa district, the Sverdlovsk Region. He graduated from the construction department of the Urals State Technical University and began his political career in 1968 as head of the construction department at the Sverdlovsk Region committee of the Communist Party. In 1975 he was elected secretary of the region’s party committee and in 1976-1985 worked as the party committee’s first secretary.
On June 12, 1991, Yeltsin was elected Russia’s first president and remained in office until December 31, 1999. Boris Yeltsin died at the age of 76 on April 23, 2007.
On June 12, 1991, Yeltsin was elected Russia’s first president and remained in office until December 31, 1999. Boris Yeltsin died at the age of 76 on April 23, 2007.
