PEN brings together leading Ukrainian and Russian writers to promote a peaceful solution to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine

Monday 9 June 2014 - 1:00am

9 June 2014

Leading Ukrainian and Russian writers brought together by PEN International and Swedish PEN to promote a peaceful solution to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine

Stockholm, 9 June, 2014 - PEN International and Swedish PEN brought together prominent Russian author Lyudmila Ulitskaya, leading Ukrainian writer and scholar Aleksandra Hnatiuk, and writers from several PEN centres, including the Swedish PEN President, novelist Ola Larsmo. The meeting is being led by PEN’s International President, John Ralston Saul; its International Treasurer, Jarkko Tontti; and Executive Director, Carles Torner, to support the dialogue between Russian and Ukrainian writers, to discuss the increasing number of imprisoned and persecuted journalists in Russia and seek solutions to the ongoing crisis.

Writers participating came from the PEN Centres of Finland, Estonia, Slovenia, Norway and Germany, as well as the Chair of PEN’s Writers for Peace Committee, Tone Persak.

Following the escalation of violence in Ukraine after the Russian occupation of Crimea, PEN International and some of its centres have led a series of meetings for writers to debate, build solidarity, foster dialogue and to provide a platform for voices from all sides of the conflict. At the initiative of Russian and Ukrainian PEN, over the last two months PEN has organised and participated in meetings in Kiev, Warsaw and Bled to facilitate dialogue among writers from Russia, Ukraine and across the region bringing together leading economists, scholars, artists, journalists, civic activists and human rights defenders.

Further information on the outcome of this week’s meeting will be released on Wednesday (11 June).

For more information please contact Communications Manager, Sahar Halaimzai: Sahar.halaimzai@pen-international.org t. +44 (0)20 7405 0338