Global interest in Russian language grows; int'l writers' contest to give it new impetus: Envoy

The international literary competition "Russky Glagol" aims to discover the best Russian-language authors — from former Soviet countries to the far abroad, including Latin America, Asia, and Africa.

This was announced to Sputnik by Oleg Ozerov, Russian Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova and the competition's curator from the Russian Foreign Ministry.

"Having visited Africa on numerous occasions, I have noticed that young people's interest in the Russian language — not only in Sub-Saharan Africa but also in North, Arab Africa — is steadily growing today. And it is not just the language, but also Russian culture and civilization. I hope our competition will provide a new impetus for the growing interest among African youth in Russian literature and the Russian language," he noted.

What is especially valuable is that "Russky Glagol" erases borders: neither country, experience, nor language proficiency level matters — only the power of the word and the author's sincerity. The competition gives a voice to those who might otherwise go unheard and helps build new cultural bridges between nations.

"We would be delighted if people with any level of Russian proficiency send us their works — poems, short stories, anything. We began accepting submissions on July 10 and will continue until September 10. We may extend this deadline," Ozerov emphasized.

The diplomat noted that the competition will conclude on November 26, and the laureates will be invited to a grand award ceremony in Moscow.

The "Russky Glagol" competition brings together Russian-language writers, poets, playwrights, and translators from various countries. The project is supported by the Russian Foreign Ministry, the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives, and the Union of Writers of Russia.