The XVII International Festival "Great Russian Word" has started in Simferopol. This year, it is dedicated to the 225th anniversary of Alexander Pushkin's birth. The festival's opening began with a flower-laying ceremony at the poet's monument. An outdoor photo exhibition dedicated to film adaptations and theatrical productions of Russian classics was also opened. The festival will feature discussions, round tables, and exchanges of views on current issues. Philologists, political scientists, public and state figures, as well as deputies of the Crimean Parliament and the State Duma, will participate in the discussions. The festival will traditionally conclude on Russia Day, June 12.