The bust was unveiled by Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandic, Russian Ambassador Anvar Azimov and the president of the International Federation of Russian-Speaking Writers, Oleg Volovik.
Bandic said he would go to Moscow this month to agree with the mayor the unveiling of a bust of Juraj Krizanic this year or in early 2017 at the latest. Krizanic was a Croatian priest, theologian, author, linguist, musician, politician and advocate of church and Slavic unity. He announced that a Yury Gagarin statute would be erected in Zagreb soon.
Ambassador Azimov said today was an important day. "Pushkin came to Croatia, Pushkin came to Zagreb. A man who is loved and respected here," he said, thanking Bandic for the fact that Pushkin, he said, now belonged "to our dear, beloved, hospitable Croatia."