Leo Tolstoi's descendants to gather in Yasnaya Polyana

On August 1 Leo Tolstoi's descendants will gather first in Moscow, then in Yasnaya Polyana (about 150 kilometres to the south of Moscow). They are to spend a week in his patrimony.

According to Yasnaya Polyana's present owner Vladimir Tolstoi, foreign descendants of the great writer began arriving in Russia on Wednesday. Some 90 out of 230 Leo Tolstoi's descendants will come in Russia. Their trip will start with an excursion over Moscow.

Two years ago 80 people came to a similar gathering. In 2002 most guests will come in Russia for the first time. "So in two years almost all Tolstoi's descendants will restore contacts with Yasnaya Polyana," Vladimir Tolstoi said.

The granddaughter of the great writer, Tatiana, 87, will visit Russia for the first time. Another granddaughter, Sofia, is already 94 years old, and she cannot come.

The present meeting is devoted to the 140th anniversary of marriage of Leo Tolstoi and his wife Sofia and the 150th anniversary of the writer's creative activity /his first story "Childhood" was published in the Sovremennik journal in 1852/.

Vladimir Tolstoi intends to propose relatives to create foreign departments of Leo Tolstoi's Legacy foundation. Yasnaya Polyana museum and Tolstoi's descendants will be its founders. According t Vladimir Tolstoi, foreign descendants will join the board of founders to open its departments in their countries.

In addition, there is a proposal to establish a board of trustees of the Yasnaya Polyana museum, involving outstanding Russian and foreign cultural figures, and to draft founding documents of the Club of Yasnaya Polyana's Friends.