On December 24, 2010, Bendery saw a solemn event dedicated to unveiling of the bust of the Ukrainian writer and playwright, classicist of a new Ukrainian literature, officer of the Russian Army, Ivan Petrovich Kotlyarevsky.
Participating in the ceremony which took place in the Military and Historical Memorial Complex “Bendery Fortress” were President of the PMR Igor Smirnov, Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Yastrebchak, members of the Cabinet of Ministers of the PMR, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassadors of Russia, Ukraine, and Bulgaria. In his speech, Igor Smirnov expressed hope for “this monument to be a sign of everlasting friendship of Great Russia, Great Ukraine, the Pridnestrovien Moldavian Republic and entire Slavic world.”