Ploschad Obolenskogo-Nogotkova is named in honour of Ivan Obolensky-Nogotkov (sometimes written Ivan Nogotkov-Obolensky) who was the first governor of Tsarevokokshaisk - as Yoshkar-Ola used to be known.  He was appointed in 1584 by Tsar Feodor.  Just next to this monument is a scaled-down copy of Moscow's Tsar Cannon.