A mammoth monument to medieval ruler Prince Vladimir will be unveiled on the Nov. 4 public holiday, according to a government decree, though the location for it is yet to be determined.
The statue of the ruler who converted Kievan Rus to Christianity in the 10th century will be presented to the public on National Unity Day amid a ceremony financed from “non-budgetary sources,” according to a decree published on the government website.
The unveiling ceremony itself will cost 25 million rubles ($446,000) — almost a third of the amount listed as necessary to put up the statue (94 million rubles, or $1.7 million).
Moscow authorities originally planned to erect the monument on Vorobyovy Gory (Sparrow Hills), but the decision elicited protests from residents. Ideas for a new location are due to be discussed by Moscow City Duma deputies on July 14.
