Addis Ababa celebrates the great life of Alexander Pushkin
Zela Gayle
The Russian Centre for Science and Culture in Addis Ababa is preparing to commemorate the birthday anniversary of Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin, who is considered the founder of Russian literature and to whom the centre was named after.
Established in March 1945, Emperor Haile Selassie I inaugurated the centre as a permanent exhibition illustrating Russian achievements and to bring to Ethiopia elements of Russian culture. Russia has maintained friendly relations with Ethiopia already from the late 18th century, providing medical aid during the battle of Adwa and was one of the few great powers who supported the stand for the freedom of Ethiopia at the UN, then known as League of Nations.