Memory of Azerbaijani poet Samad Vurgun honoured in Kyiv PHOTO

In a solemn event held in the heart of Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, the memory of the eminent Azerbaijani poet Samad Vurgun was commemorated.

Marking the anniversary of the birth of this literary luminary, the occasion unfolded at the city library, an institution proudly bearing Vurgun's name since 1978. Standing sentinel in front of the library is a monument erected in 2006 as a tribute to the poet's enduring legacy, Caliber.Az reports.

Among the attendees was MP Sergei Nahornyak, a prominent figure in Ukrainian politics and co-founder of the Ukrainian-Turkic Center, who actively participated in the proceedings. Together with the dedicated staff of the library, Nahornyak laid flowers at the feet of the monument, paying homage to the profound impact of Vurgun's poetry.

The MP discussed opportunities for new projects and revitalization of the activities of the Kyiv Public Library named after Samad Vurgun, as well as the popularization of the poet's literary heritage.

In November 2023, a significant gathering took place at the library, spearheaded and backed by Sergei Nahornyak. This event was dedicated to commemorating the anniversary of Azerbaijan's triumph in the Second Karabakh War and the celebration of Shusha City Day. Ambassadors from Turkic nations in Ukraine and esteemed guests graced the occasion with their presence.

In an exchange with reporters, Sergei Nahornyak emphasized the significance of fostering cultural ties between Ukraine and Azerbaijan, underscoring the importance of promoting the literary heritage of poets who bridged the two nations.

“It is important to continue to develop the cultural dialogue between Ukraine and Azerbaijan, to update the common pages of history and to pay attention and popularize the literary heritage of those outstanding poets and translators who developed relations between our countries. The Kyiv Public Library named after Samad Vurgun is also important because it preserves the cultural memory of Ukrainian-Azerbaijani relations: it was the favorite library of the most outstanding Ukrainian translator of Azerbaijani literature, poet, classic of Ukrainian literature Mykola Miroshnychenko. Outstanding Azerbaijani poets held literary evenings here, in particular, the most famous Azerbaijani Ukrainian scholar, translator and researcher of Ukrainian literature, Abbas Abdullah. It is very important to continue the traditions of Ukrainian-Azerbaijani relations that were formed, including by these and other outstanding personalities,” said Nahornyak.

The head of the library, Larisa Komarova, spoke about the planned events and projects that the library staff is currently preparing for. An exhibition of S. Vurgun’s books and literature about him was also held, which was prepared for the anniversary of the poet’s birth.

“The library continues to be an interesting venue for events. We will continue to make efforts to develop Ukrainian-Azerbaijani cultural projects,” Komarova noted.

The outstanding Azerbaijani poet Samad Vurgun (1906-1956) dedicated poems to Ukraine, often visited the Ukrainian capital and maintained creative connections with Ukrainian writers and translators. He also translated the works of Taras Shevchenko into Azerbaijani.