Penza, 22 June 2017. PenzaNews. A monument to the ex-governor Vasily Bochkarev, who had been at the head of the region during 17 years – from 1998 to 2015 – was opened in the Novo-Zapadnoe cemetery in Penza on the anniversary of his death, on June 22.

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The Archbishop Seraphim of Penza and Nizhnelomovsk held a service for the dead.

Representatives of authority including the governor Ivan Belozertsev, the Penza mayor Victor Kuvaytsev as well as those who had collaborated with Vasily Bochkarev on business issues came to pay tribute to the ex-governor.

In particular, his grave was visited by the assistant Presidential envoy in the Volga Federal District Oleg Melnichenko, the ex-governor of the Saratov region Dmitry Ayatskov, the ex-mayors of Penza Roman Chernov and Alexander Kalashnikov.

They shared their memories about Vasily Bochkarev and made special mention of his contribution to development of the region.

The monument installed on the politician's grave is a metal bas-relief on a granite slab. The author of the monument is the famous Penza sculptor Valery Kuznetsov.