The monument to Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin, created by Opekushin, is one of the most famous symbols of Moscow and is located at Pushkin Square near Tverskoy Boulevard. Before its appearance, Russia did not erect monuments in honor of writers, especially those who were exiled; usually, it was kings and officials who were immortalized. Today, the Pushkin monument has become a favorite place for romantically inclined Muscovites to relax, and activists express their political views at its foot.

The idea of creating the monument arose after Pushkin's death in a duel with Dantes in 1837, which shocked society. Zhukovsky appealed to Emperor Nicholas I with a request to establish a monument, but he refused, citing a lack of funds. Twenty years later, graduates of the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum, where Pushkin studied, revived the idea and began fundraising. The process was slow due to the peasant reform, but later, thanks to the initiative of Yakov Grot and the support of the imperial family, they managed to raise 130,000 rubles. The competition to create the monument was won by Alexander Opekushin.

The commission chose Moscow for the monument's installation, believing it would give it the significance of a national treasure. Prince Oldenburg headed the construction commission, and Opekushin involved Ivan Bogomolov in the work. The figure was cast in St. Petersburg, and the granite pedestal weighing 20 tons was installed later. Part of the collected funds went to establish the Pushkin Prize and to publish a magazine featuring his works.

The monument was unveiled on Tverskoy Boulevard on June 6, 1880. The ceremony was attended by 100,000 Muscovites, and the celebrations lasted three days. Among the guests were Dostoevsky, Aksakov, and Turgenev. The monument became a national event, covered by foreign publications, and flowers were brought to its base.

Opekushin depicted Pushkin in full height in a frock coat and cloak, with characteristic sideburns. The height of the monument is 11 meters. The sculptor portrayed the poet in a moment of contemplation, with a hand out of his clothing and a hat behind his back. The monument originally stood opposite the Passion Monastery, but in 1950, it was moved to its current location by Stalin's order. The operation to relocate it took six hours and attracted many spectators. To ensure the monument did not get lost in its new surroundings, it was placed on a concrete foundation and underwent restoration.

Pushkin sympathized with the Decembrists and awaited reforms, complicating his relationship with Nicholas I, who was his personal censor. Censorship also affected the inscription on the pedestal of the monument. In 1937, on the anniversary of Pushkin's death, demonstrations took place at the monument. Stalin suggested making the poet a symbol of power, and his works were included in the school curriculum.

In 1965, the first protest demonstration after the Stalin era took place at the monument, organized by mathematician Volpin. Since then, the monument has become a meeting place for dissenters and a symbol of change. However, for many Muscovites, it remains a place for romantic encounters.

The monument is located at Pushkin Square in Moscow, near three metro stations: "Pushkinskaya," "Chekhovskaya," and "Tverskaya." The square attracts tourists due to the museums and prestigious hotels along Tverskoy Boulevard, and the monument itself is visible from afar and beautifully illuminated at night.