Leo Butnaru (Republic of Moldova)

LEO BUTNARU (was born in Negureni, Orhei County, in the Republic of Moldova, 5 January 1949) is a writer from Moldova and Romania. 

Licensed in journalism and philology from the University of Moldova (1972). Activated in the periodical press, from editor to chief-editor: “Tinerimea Moldovei”, “Literatura si arta”, “Moldova”. Debuted with the book of poetry Aripa in lumina (Wing in light)(1976). In 1977 becomes member of the Writers’ Union of USSR. In the same year is discharged from his position at newspaper “Tinerimea Moldovei” (in spite of promoting for publication an arcticle about M. Kogalniceanu, which transgressed the imperial-communist ideological line). Member of the Writers’ Union of Romania (1993). Founding member of the PEN Center of Moldova. Between years 1997-2005, 2013-2023 – president of Chisinau Branch of the Writers’ Union of Romania. Member of Council of Writers’ Union of Romania. Author’s books appeared in France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Poland, Serbia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Tatarstan, Ukraine.

Multiple prizes of Writers’ Union of Moldova, Writers’ Union of Romania Prize (1998; 2015) and the National Prize of Republic of Moldova (2002), the Prize of the Directing Committee and the Council of Writers’ Union of Romania (2008).