Khottabych Monument

Starik Hottabych is directly related to Vitebsk, since the author of the work, Lazar Lagin (Ginzburg), was born in the city on the Dvina River in 1903. In 1938, Ginzburg wrote the famous "Old Man Hottabych," which became a favorite book for many children not only in the Soviet Union, but also in the former Soviet Union.

The sculpture of the old genie was made by the Vitebsk artist, sculptor and designer Sergey Sotnikov and is 180 cm tall.

The old man was placed in front of the "Lyalka" Puppet Theater. The actors staged a big show at the monument's unveiling. Apart from the actors, the event was attended by representatives of the authorities: the Chairman of the City Executive Committee Viktar Nikolaykin and the Chairman of the Regional Council of Deputies Uladzimir Terytiev, who were entrusted to rub the "magic jug" brought by the actors, after which the hood that covered the sculpture disappeared, revealing the genie to the audience.

The monument to old man Hottabych immediately became a local landmark: every day the citizens and guests of Vitebsk come to take pictures and to rub the jug of the old genie, hoping that it will help the wishes come true - so a new city tradition is being born.