On March 8, the first President of Kalmykia, sixth President of FIDE Kirsan Ilyumzhinov congratulated women on International Women's Day:
"Lovely ladies! I sincerely congratulate you on the holiday of spring - International Women's Day! Mothers, sisters, daughters, beloved ones - you are the dearest in the world. You make the world beautiful and extraordinary. I want to live in this world.
Thanks to your vitality and wisdom, human race exists on earth from century to century. Our whole life is filled with the warmth of your beauty and kindness. You are the most amazing and beautiful, strong and tender, open and incomprehensible. How unbearable and joyless life on earth would be without you!
Your care and love inspire us to create, give strength, inspire courage. Millennia of world history are illuminated by your tenderness and beauty.
Dear women, I sincerely wish you happiness, love and health. May your dreams come true! May your children, relatives and friends never get sick. And know that our respect for you is unchanged, and admiration is genuine and boundless. May you always be surrounded by love, attention and care of people close to you! Be loved and happy!”
