From Yesenin to Darwish: BelSU Hosts International Literary Translation Competition Bridging Russian and Arab Cultures

The competition titled From Yesenin to Darwish: Word and Meaning was jointly organised by the Mahmoud Darwish Centre and the Sergei Yesenin Centre for Russian Language and Culture at Al-Istiqlal University.

Participants hailed from Belgorod, Kursk, Voronezh, Tula, Rostov, Yaroslavl, Kazan, Ufa, Moscow and Bethlehem in Palestine. The youngest competitor was 16 years old, while the oldest was 55.

The ceremony was timed to coincide with World Poetry Day and the birthday of the celebrated Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish. Distinguished guests joined the proceedings online, including Mr Abdallah Issa, Counsellor at the Embassy of the State of Palestine in the Russian Federation; Dr Noor Al-Aqra, Vice-Rector for Academic and Scientific Affairs at Al-Istiqlal University; and Dr Mohammed Hassan Najajra, Director of the Sergei Yesenin Centre for Russian Language and Culture at Al-Istiqlal University.

Nikolai Tsybulya, Vice-Rector and Director of the International Cooperation Department at Belgorod National Research University (BelSU), delivered a welcoming address to the participants.

“Mahmoud Darwish is a poet whose verses resonate not only across the Arab world but also with Russian readers,” said Tsybulya. “Longing for one's homeland, love for one's mother, fidelity to a woman, and reflections on the fragility of existence and the meaning of life are themes that run deep in our own culture and literature. A creative evening dedicated to the birthday of this great Palestinian poet offers yet another opportunity to reflect on universal human values and the dialogue of cultures.”

Dr Noor Al-Aqra also addressed those present, noting that the competition represents more than an academic exercise. She described it as an important bridge for literary and cultural exchange between Arab and Russian civilisations, providing students and translators with the opportunity to engage with texts from two rich and ancient traditions. Such interaction, he observed, strengthens mutual understanding, deepens creative dialogue and reveals shared humanistic values, affirming culture’s ability to transcend boundaries and forge relationships founded on mutual respect.

The winners were announced across two categories. In the category of Translation of a Poetic Work from Russian into Arabic, first place was awarded to Kristina Kroshkina, a student at Ushinsky Yaroslavl State Pedagogical University. Second place went to Nader Dakart from South State University of the Republic of Belarus, and third place was claimed by Abedelgani Aya Reda Kelani from BelSU.