Andrukhovych: Heym Prize "Solidarity signal for Ukraine"

He is the "voice of his country" and the "voice of Europe": this is how the Mayor of Chemnitz, Sven Schulze (SPD), praised this year's winner of the Stefan Heym Prize, the Ukrainian writer Yuri Andrukhovych. Schulze presented the literary award to Andrukhovych on Saturday evening. The Stefan Heym Prize is endowed with 20,000 euros.

The writer said he perceived the award as a "strong signal of solidarity" for his country. "This prize is a clear testimony that you, Europeans, are with us, with Ukraine." In his books, Andrukhovych has long dealt with the developments in his home country - including the "Orange Revolution" and the Maidan movement.

Sharp voice against authoritarian systems

The Board of Trustees praised Andrukhovych as one of the most important literary and intellectual voices in Ukraine. His work combines socio-political acuity with subtle humor, which is also directed against authoritarian systems. The laudatory speech was held by Katharina Raabe, Suhrkamp Verlag's editor for Eastern European literatures.

Born in 1960, the author first became known for his experimental satirical poetry and later turned increasingly to prose and essays. He has already received numerous awards, including the Leipzig Book Prize for European Understanding and the Heinrich Heine Prize of the City of Düsseldorf. "In the title of the current prize, I like the point about interfering best - in social and political debates, of course. And I like to get involved," Andrukhovych is quoted as saying in a statement from the city.

"I believe that you had an excellent teacher of meddling and cheerfulness, his name was Stefan Heym," Andrukhovych said in his acceptance speech. Heym was born Helmut Flieg in Chemnitz in 1913, grew up in a German-Jewish family and later fled from the National Socialists to the USA.

He returned to the GDR in 1952. There he became an important voice in opposition literature and was politically active in reunified Germany. The Stefan Heym Prize has been awarded since 2008. Previous winners include Amos Oz, Christoph Hein and Jenny Erpenbeck.

The award ceremony in Chemnitz also marks the start of the 35th Days of Jewish Culture.