On February 25, 2011 the Embassy of Ukraine in Latvia in cooperation with Latvian Academic Library and Ukrainian community in Latvia organized a solemn evening on the occasion of the 140th anniversary of Lesia Ukrainka.

While opening this event, Charge d’Affairs of Ukraine in Latvia O.Kushnir stressed the importance of cultural heritage of the great poetess for Ukraine and the whole humanity.  «Together with Ivan Franko, Taras Shevchenko and other coryphaeus Lesia Ukrainka became the writer that provided international authority of Ukraianin culture. Famous Ukrainian poet Maksym Rylsky was right to name her the Joan of Arc of Ukrainian literature»  – said O.Kushnir.

In the premises of Latvian Academic Library an exhibition of books of Lesia Ukrainka in Ukrainian, Russian and Latvian languages was organized. Some of the books are unique, since they are the first editions of Ukrainka’s poems, published in Latvia.

During the evening, Riga Ukrainian secondary school theatre studio  «Dzhereltse»  presented a performance of  «Forest song»  by Lesia Ukrainka.

The heads of diplomatic missions, accredited in Latvia, the representatives of scientific circles, Ukrainian diaspora, Russian and Byelorussian communities in Latvia also were present on the event.