Famous Moldovan writer turns 87

Chisinau, 25 July /MOLDPRES/ - A well-known prose writer, essayist, publicist and translator, former lawmaker in the first Moldova’s parliament, laureate of the state prize Vladimir Besleaga turned 87 today.    

Besleaga was born in the Malaiesti village, Grigoriopol district, on 25 July 1931. In 1955, he graduated from the Moldovan State University (USM). He trained for his doctor’s degree at USM.  

Vladimir Besleaga started his literary activity in 1960s. He worked for more magazines and newspapers, as well as editor-in-chief of the Nistru magazine. Besleaga also acted as secretary at the Management Committee of Moldova’s Writers’ Union (1971-1976), as well as director of the D. Cantemir Republican Museum of Literature (1988). He was lawmaker in the first parliament of Moldova (1990-1994).       

Vladimir Besleaga’s works were translated in more languages. He also translated from works by Longos, Erasmus of Rotterdam and others. In 1991, Besleaga was awarded the honorific title of People’s Writer and in 1996 – the Order of the Republic. Yet, in 2003, the writer returned this Order as a token of protest for awarding it to a former Communist leader of Soviet Moldova, Ivan Bodiul. In 2004, Vladimir Besleaga was awarded the Excellence Prize of the Moldovan Writers’ Union for all his literary and journalism works. In 2012, he got the title Doctor Honoris Causa of the Alecu Russo State University from Balti.        

(Reporter N. Roibu, editor L. Alcaza)