Ukrainian author
Yuri Andruchowytsch honored with the Heine Prize
Düsseldorf Mayor Stephan Keller )l) presents Juri Andruchowytch with the certificate of his award. photo
© David Young/dpa
This year’s Heine Prize is all about the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. The city of Düsseldorf honored an author who has long been committed to connecting the country to Europe.
The Ukrainian writer and essayist Yuri Andrukhowytsch was awarded the renowned Heine Prize 2022 by the city of Düsseldorf on Saturday. The 62-year-old author accepted the award, which is endowed with 50,000 euros, from the Lord Mayor of Düsseldorf, Stephan Keller (CDU), at a ceremony in the state capital’s theatre.
The prize, which is awarded every two years, is named after the poet Heinrich Heine (1797-1856), who was born in Düsseldorf. His 225th birthday will be celebrated this year. He was probably born on December 13, 1797 and died in exile in Paris in 1856.
With Andruchowytsch honor Düsseldorf, a determined advocate of European values who advocates a free and independent Ukraine with close ties to Europe, Mayor Stephan Keller (CDU) paid tribute to the award winner.
Andrukhovych was “one of the leading Ukrainian novelists, poets and essayists of our time”, the award jury justified their selection. He sharply criticizes attacks by secret services, the military and the judiciary. The sense of irony and the grotesque characterized his work in the best Heine tradition.