{"id":16569,"date":"2026-05-26T17:32:21","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T14:32:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/balkanclub.business\/?p=16569"},"modified":"2026-06-17T10:54:41","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T07:54:41","slug":"oak-grove-of-memory-without-any-borders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/balkanclub.business\/en\/2026\/business-news\/oak-grove-of-memory-without-any-borders\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Oak grove of memory\u2019 without any borders"},"content":{"rendered":"

On May 12, a truly symbolic event took place in the picturesque urban-type settlement of Polotnyany Zavod in Kaluga Region: an \u2018Oak Grove of Memory\u2019 is now growing there. As part of the international campaign \u2018OAK GROVE OF MEMORY\u2019 AT THE \u2018POLOTNYANY ZAVOD\u2019 MUSEUM-RESERVE\u2019, Serbian public figure Radmila Dmitrievna Tonkovic, together with schoolchildren and adult volunteers, planted two commemorative oak trees.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The trees were dedicated to outstanding Serbs – Count Savva Vladislavic-Raguzinsky and Admiral Marko Voinovic. The organizers of the ecological and historical project \u2018Oak Grove of Memory\u2019 hope that each tree will become not merely part of the green landscape, but a living monument recalling the cultural and historical ties between the peoples of Russia and Serbia.<\/p>\n

During a conversation with participants in the campaign, Radmila Dmitrievna also spoke about her roots: among her ancestors was Admiral Marko Voinovic. He stood at the origins of the founding of Russia\u2019s Black Sea Fleet.<\/p>\n

Here is one of the facts: in 1788, the admiral commanded the Sevastopol squadron of 36 vessels. He entered battle against 47 Turkish vessels under the command of Hasan Pasha. The battle was won. For this battle, Count Voinovic received the Order of St. George, Third Class. On July 28, the Empress wrote to Potemkin: \u2018The action of the Sevastopol fleet has greatly pleased me: it is almost unbelievable with what little force God helps to defeat the strong Turkish armaments! Tell me, how can I please Voinovic? Crosses of the third class have already been sent to you; give him one, or a sword\u2019. Grafskaya Wharf in Sevastopol is named in his honor. Sevastopol also has Grafskaya Bay, Grafskaya Balka, where M. I. Voinovic had a farmstead, and Grafsky Tunnel.<\/p>\n

Count Savva Vladislavic-Raguzinsky was a talented and energetic diplomat whose work touched the most diverse corners of the world, from Rome to Beijing and from St. Petersburg to Constantinople.<\/p>\n

In 1701, Savva Vladislavic came to Russia for the first time. Although the trip was connected with commercial interests, the main purpose was to meet Peter I: Raguzinsky saw in the tsar a hope for the liberation of the Balkan peoples from the Ottoman yoke. He brought to Russia the notes \u2018Study of the Route by the Black Sea to Moscow,\u2019 in which he described in detail Turkish ports, garrisons, armaments and the Ottoman fleet.<\/p>\n

He made a significant contribution to Russia\u2019s development: he laid the foundations of the Balkan direction of Russian policy, took part in the creation of foreign intelligence, established the regular minting of Russian copper coinage, and enriched the Summer Garden with magnificent sculptures. It was also Savva Raguzinsky who concluded the Treaty of Kyakhta with China \u2013 the result of long and difficult negotiations on the border between the two empires.<\/p>\n

His life is connected with the appearance in Russia of Ibrahim Gannibal, the grandfather of Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin. It was he who bought Gannibal out of slavery and brought him as a gift to Peter I.<\/p>\n

Savva Vladislavic-Raguzinsky<\/strong> is an example of a person who devoted his life to serving Russia without seeking fame or involvement in palace intrigues. His contribution to diplomacy, culture and the strengthening of the state deserves to be remembered.<\/p>\n

The planting of commemorative oak trees in honor of these outstanding Serbs, who gave all their abilities to Russia, became the first international campaign within the \u2018Oak Grove of Memory\u2019 project. The event clearly demonstrates the depth and sincerity of friendship between Russia and Serbia. The joint work of adults and children on a common cause emphasizes the continuity of traditions and mutual respect.<\/p>\n

The participants in the campaign \u2013<\/strong> schoolchildren and adults alike \u2013 felt the importance of the moment. For the children of Polotnyany Zavod Secondary School No. 1, it was not merely a lesson in ecology or history, but a lesson in friendship: they learned about the role of Savva Raguzinsky and Marko Voinovic in Russian history and felt their involvement in a major and important cause.<\/p>\n

Polotnyany Zavod is a place with a rich history, closely connected with the development of national industry and culture. The combination of this historical atmosphere with the memory of Serbian figures created a special emotional atmosphere.<\/p>\n

Radmila Tonkovic noted:
\n<\/strong>\u2018Each tree planted is a message to future generations. It says that memory is alive and that friendship between our peoples is strong and unbreakable. I am grateful to the organizers of the ecological and historical project \u2018Oak Grove of Memory\u2019, to the hospitable \u2018Polotnyany Zavod\u2019 Museum-Reserve, to the wonderful schoolchildren of the urban-type settlement of Polotnyany Zavod and their teachers, and to everyone who supported our campaign. Together we are creating something greater than simply planting several trees – we are laying the foundation for friendship for centuries to come, we are creating an Oak Grove of Memory as a symbol of unity.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n

After the planting of the commemorative oak trees and Radmila Tonkovic\u2019s meeting with schoolchildren, during which she spoke about her outstanding compatriots and answered questions from curious young people, tours of the Shchepochkin House and the Goncharov House were organized for the visiting guests.<\/p>\n

After the tours, Radmila Tonkovic and other guests of Polotnyany Zavod \u2013 Natalia Zadonskaya, correspondent of People\u2019s Slavic Radio, and a co-organizer of the \u2018Oak Grove of Memory\u2019 project \u2013 visited the monument to A. S. Pushkin, the poet\u2019s favorite place \u2013 the gazebo, now known as Pushkin\u2019s Gazebo, near the riverbed of the Sukhodrev River \u2013 and the commemorative oak \u2018Lyra,\u2019 also known as the Pushkin Oak.<\/p>\n

The participants in the eventful day\u2019s program agreed to meet again next year. They plan to check how the young oak trees have grown, discuss new ideas for the project, and outline plans for further long-term cooperation.<\/p>\n

We express our deep gratitude<\/strong> to the staff of the \u2018Polotnyany Zavod\u2019 Museum-Reserve for their support, warm welcome and professionalism. Thanks to their participation, the campaign took place in a special historical atmosphere that inspired everyone present. Personal thanks go to the director of the museum-reserve, Elena Vladimirovna Nazarova, and to the curator of the event, Elizaveta Pavlovna Orlova.<\/p>\n

We thank the participants in the campaign \u2013<\/strong> the schoolchildren and their teachers, the residents of the urban-type settlement of Polotnyany Zavod who joined the initiative, and the staff of the \u2018Goncharov\u2019 Restaurant.<\/p>\n

Special thanks go to our dear guest, Radmila Dmitrievna Tonkovic, for her energy, enthusiasm and contribution to the development of cultural dialogue between Russia and Serbia. Her initiative launched a new stage in the history of the \u2018Oak Grove of Memory\u2019 – a stage that will undoubtedly bear many good fruits.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On May 12, a truly symbolic event took place in the picturesque urban-type settlement of Polotnyany Zavod in Kaluga Region: an \u2018Oak…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":16570,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[271,273],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/balkanclub.business\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16569"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/balkanclub.business\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/balkanclub.business\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/balkanclub.business\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/balkanclub.business\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16569"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/balkanclub.business\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16569\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16571,"href":"https:\/\/balkanclub.business\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16569\/revisions\/16571"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/balkanclub.business\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16570"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/balkanclub.business\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16569"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/balkanclub.business\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16569"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/balkanclub.business\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16569"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}