Anton Vaino chaired the third meeting of the organising committee for celebrating Leo Tolstoy’s 200th birth anniversary

The meeting was attended by more
than 60 members of the organising committee and invited guests, including
cultural figures, scholars, representatives of public organisations and government agencies, including the heads and officials from twelve regions of the Russian Federation.

As part of the meeting agenda, State
Secretary – Deputy Minister of Culture Zhanna Alekseyeva reported on the work done
to supplement the Action Plan for preparing and holding celebrations marking Leo
Tolstoy’s 200^th birth anniversary, as approved by Government Resolution
No. 2644-r of September 24, 2024. The Ministry of Culture, in cooperation with
the Ministry of Finance, has developed 13 major comprehensive projects. These
include restoration works on 29 sites located on the grounds of the Yasnaya
Polyana museum-estate complex, the restoration of the 19^th century
Lopukhins – Stanitskaya Estate in Moscow, the Vargins’ Service Wing (Office) of the 18^th-19^th Century City Estate in Moscow, and the cultural heritage site House in Which Leo Tolstoy Died in 1920 in the Lipetsk
Region. Following restoration, modern museum exhibitions will be established at these sites.

Minister of Construction, Housing
and Utilities Irek Fayzullin announced the deadlines for the completion of construction and commissioning of new facilities at the Yasnaya Polyana Leo
Tolstoy Museum-Estate. The new storage facility and a restoration centre are
currently being transferred to the museum, while the construction of a festival
centre and a visitor centre is scheduled for completion by the end of 2027.

Director General of the Leo Tolstoy
State Museum Reserve, Adviser to the Chief of Staff of the Presidential
Executive Office, and Chairman of the organising committee’s working group Vladimir
Tolstoy presented the official visual identity for the anniversary
celebrations. The design incorporates the writer’s signature and a graphic
interpretation of the numbers 200 and 28, the latter holding special
significance for Leo Tolstoy. He also presented the concept for a multi-part
feature film titled The Leo Constellation, dedicated to the life and work of the famous writer. The initiative received support from Chairman of the organising
committee Anton Vaino, Chairman of the Union of Theatre Workers of the Russian
Federation Vladimir Mashkov, and General Director of the Mosfilm Cinema Concern
Karen Shakhnazarov.

Tula Region Governor Dmitry Milyaev
reported on the preparations the region is making for the upcoming anniversary
celebrations, highlighting the development of a nationwide tourist route, titled
“Leo Tolstoy’s Russia.” The route will initially connect seven regions of Russia’s Central Federal District before expanding to the North Caucasus,
Southern, Volga, and Northwestern federal districts.

The meeting concluded with reports by representatives
of Russian Railways and Yandex, who spoke about their companies’ contributions
to the anniversary celebrations, including the creation of new products and the implementation of projects aimed at preserving and promoting the legacy of the great writer.