Groups of scholars and readers are gathering for commemorative and literary events in Rome and Tashkent, as well as in Russian cities.
In eastern Ukraine, the date has taken on a political tone, as the Russian-speaking Donetsk and Kharkiv regions chose to honor the Russian poet by declaring his birthday "Russian Language Day."
(Interfax, ITAR-TASS)
RFE/RL In Russian
UPDATED CONSTANTLY: Visit RFE/RL's Russian-language website, featuring news, analysis, features, streaming audio, and more, in Russian, from RFE/RL's Russian Service.