Professor Rashad Miran Awarded Pushkin Medal
Professor Rashad Miran Awarded Pushkin Medal by Russian President
Moscow, November 4, 2025 — In a special ceremony at the Kremlin Palace, Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded the prestigious Pushkin Medal to Professor Rashad Miran, a renowned Kurdish scholar and public figure.
Professor Miran is the first Kurdish recipient of this honor. In his speech, he called on the Russian president to further support the Kurdish people.
The award ceremony coincided with Russia’s National Unity Day and was part of a formal state event recognizing contributions to Russian culture, science, and humanitarian fields.
About the Pushkin Medal
Named after the great Russian poet Alexander Pushkin, the medal has been awarded since 1999 to individuals who have made significant contributions to the study, preservation, and promotion of Russian culture.
“Longstanding Kurdish–Russian Relations”
Professor Miran, a sociologist and prominent figure in the Kurdish political movement, emphasized the “longstanding and strong ties” between Kurdistan and Russia. As an ethnographer, he has consistently supported cultural and academic cooperation between the two peoples.
He also urged the Russian government to provide more resources for teaching the Russian language to Kurdish students, stating that “preserving ties with the Russian language is essential.”
Professor Miran concluded his remarks by expressing gratitude to President Putin in both Russian and Kurdish.
“A Historic and Meaningful Event”
Dr. Danar Abubakr, representative of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Russia, stated: “As the KRG Representation, we are proud to have supported this historic and meaningful initiative in service of the Kurdish people and our experts in this field.”
He also extended special thanks to Maxim Rubin, the Consul General of Russia in the Kurdistan Region, for his support.
Background
Professor Rashad Miran was active in the Kurdistan Democratic Party during the 1970s and was among those arrested alongside the late Leila Qasim and her comrades.
Speech by Prof. Dr. Rashad Miran – Pushkin Medal Ceremony
Speech by Prof. Dr. Rashad Miran at the Pushkin Medal Ceremony
Honorable President, Respected Vladimir Vladimirovich!
I am deeply pleased to participate in this exceptional gathering today.
I am truly honored to receive this distinguished award from Your Excellency.
I take pride in the fact that my efforts and collaborations as an ethnographer have been recognized and valued by the Russian Federation.
There exists a longstanding and solid relationship between Kurdistan and the Russian Federation.
Personally, I have always supported and contributed to these relations, affirming my commitment to the friendship between our peoples.
I hope, as in the past, our ties with the representatives of the Russian Consulate will continue and grow stronger.
I also hope that my historical and ethnographic research will continue to be of benefit.
On behalf of myself and my colleagues—those who speak and understand Russian—we respectfully present our request to Your Excellency:
We wish to have greater access to Russian-language books, journals, and newspapers, especially those concerning Kurdish culture and heritage.
We do not want our connection with the Russian language to fade.
Once again, from the bottom of my heart, I thank Your Excellency.
Thank you very much!
