Published on: 2026-08-26
Source: Moscow Government – Правительства Москвы –
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Residents of Moscow will be able to express their opinion on whether the monument to Alexander Pushkin should be returned to its historical place on Tverskoy Boulevard. This initiative was addressed to the city authorities by People’s Artist of the RSFSR and Chairman of the Union of Cinematographers of the Russian Federation Nikita Mikhalkov. His appeal was forwarded by the city authorities to the public headquarters for consideration and supported for a test vote.
“In my opinion, the very fact that the monument to Pushkin was placed on the site of the demolished bell tower of the famous Passion Monastery is not quite right. I am convinced that Alexander Sergeyevich himself would not have approved of this. Moving the monument back to its original place would mark the restoration of historical justice and the calming of the great genius’s soul,” noted Nikita Mikhalkov.
The bronze monument to Alexander Pushkin in Moscow was solemnly unveiled on Tverskoy Boulevard on June 6, 1880. Among other famous people present at the event was the writer Fyodor Dostoevsky, who afterward delivered the famous Pushkin speech. In it, he emphasized the symbolic role of the poet in the unification of Russia: “… Without Pushkin, perhaps our faith in our Russian independence, our now conscious hope in our national strengths, and later the belief in the future independent destiny would not have been determined with such unwavering force…”.
Originally, the monument was installed on Tverskoy Boulevard facing the Passion Monastery — approximately one hundred meters from the point where it is located today. On the night of August 13 to 14, 1950, the monument was moved to the other side of Tverskaya Street (then Gorky Street), to the site of the demolished bell tower of the Sretensky Monastery. The monument was installed on a new concrete foundation and rotated 180 degrees.
The Public Headquarters for Election Observation in Moscow supported the question for testing the electronic voting system before the elections. Muscovites will have the opportunity to influence the decision regarding the fate of the monument on August 28 from 08:00 to 14:00 as part of a test voting prior to the September elections for deputies of the State Duma of Russia and the municipal deputies of the Shchukino district. Citizens will be invited to vote online on the page elec.mos.ru or at one of the polling stations that will be opened in all districts of the city. You can find the nearest station in the section “How to participate in test voting at the polling station”.
Adult city residents with permanent registration in Moscow are invited to join the test voting. Remote participation on elec.mos.ru will be available to users of the mos.ru portal with a full account. In the personal account, you can check level his account and, if necessary, upgrade it by simple instructions. For those who wish to participate in the test voting in person, a number of polling stations will open in the capital. You need to come here with a passport.
The voting process on August 28 will be the same as in the upcoming elections for deputies from September 18 to 20. Citizens will receive a ballot, must choose an answer option to the proposed question, and mark it. The electronic voting procedure must be completed by clicking the “Vote” button. The digital vote will be recorded in the blockchain in an anonymous, encrypted form.
As in previous years, the test voting will take place several weeks before the elections. During it, specialists will check the correctness of the Moscow electronic voting system, all its components and functions. At the same time, the residents of the capital will not only express their opinion on an issue important for the preservation of cultural heritage but will also help determine whether the electronic voting system needs additional improvements and fine-tuning.
The developers will also conduct stress tests on it and check how it and the provided backup technologies behave in the event of possible interference, short-term voltage surges in the power grid, and loads during peak voting periods. The specialists’ task will be to ensure before the elections that even in emergency situations all electronic votes are recorded without distortions or losses.
The elections for the deputies of the State Duma and municipal deputies of the Shchukino district will be held in the capital from September 18 to 20, 2026. On these days, voters will also have access to all methods of voting. You can learn more details about the September elections in Moscow and the ways to cast your vote in the special section on mos.ru.
Voters who participate in the voting in the Moscow elections in 2026 can expect prizes. Everyone who votes online at elec.mos.ru or using the electronic voting terminal at the polling station, will receive from one to 50 thousand prize points as part of the promotion “#ChoosingTogether2026 — Moscow” the “Million Prizes” programs and will be able to use them with partners. Each point equals one ruble. Participants of past promotions most often exchanged prizes for promo codes that provide discounts in supermarkets, pharmacies, clothing and shoe stores. In addition, points can be used to receive discounts in cafes and restaurants, to top up the “Troika” card, as well as support charitable foundations.
Get the main news promptly on the official Moscow city channels in messengers “Max” and “Telegram”.
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