Putin approves renaming Rostov to Rostov the Great

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree renaming the city of Rostov, Yaroslavl Region, to Rostov Veliky. The corresponding document is posted on December 28 on the Internet portal of the official publication of legal acts.

"Rename the city of Rostov of the Yaroslavl region to the city of Rostov the Great," the decree reads.

On December 20, the change of the city's name was approved by the Federation Council, on December 17, the bill on renaming was adopted by the State Duma. Governor of the Yaroslavl region Mikhail Evraev called the initiative another big step in the restoration of historical justice.

Rostov Veliky is the historical name of the city, a mention of which dates back to 862.