A growing number of cultural enthusiasts in Bahrain are learning Russian and exhibiting a keen interest in the country’s traditions, tutors have highlighted, coinciding with Russian Language Day today.
The annual event marks the birth of Alexander Pushkin, considered by many to be the greatest Russian poet, as well as the founder of modern Russian literature.
The kingdom will mark the international day with cultural events, organised by various local groups and institutions. Among them is the Russian Language Hub at Gulf University in Sanad. The platform, established a year ago, will stage writing sessions, poem readings and other themed activities.
“I have always believed that languages contribute to international dialogue and are the ultimate bridge-builders in all spheres of life,” professional tutor and Bahrain Association for Russian Speakers (BARS) member Olesya Selezen told the GDN.
“We are witnessing a remarkable growth of interest in the Russian language and culture here in Bahrain. Language is never just about vocabulary or grammar; it is about personal growth, cultural understanding and opening new opportunities and expanding borders.
“As Bahrain and the broader GCC region continue to strengthen economic, cultural and diplomatic ties with Russia, local professionals and students are recognising the immense value of studying Russian,” she added.
Ms Selezen moved from Moscow to Bahrain four years ago with a mission to build bridges between cultures. She later joined BARS – a platform supporting cultural exchange through educational initiatives, community outreach and public events. Currently, BARS has around 50 members including several Bahrainis.
The kingdom is also home to many who are not actively involved in a particular group but have a strong passion for the culture and language. One such enthusiast is Bahraini polyglot Jasim Al Hasan, who began learning Russian two years ago, though his fascination with the language dates back much earlier. He was introduced to the ‘wonders’ of the culture when he started listening to Molchat Doma – a Belarusian post-punk and synth-pop band that primarily writes and perform their lyrics in Russian.
“I started learning on Duo Lingo application and later made friends online who help me practice speaking. Though I can read well, I am still learning to converse,” added the 24-year-old Bahrain Polytechnic film and animation major. “When I visited Sochi in Russia, I was the only one in my group who knew the language. The locals were so happy to see a Bahraini speak, even though it was in broken Russian. They called me ‘Maksim’ (a common name in Russia) instead of Jasim.
“I kept saying ‘privet’ (‘hello’), which is an informal greeting not commonly used when you meet someone for the first time, which took the locals by surprise. It was only later that I learned the more appropriate word is ‘strazvutia’,” recounted the Hidd resident.
Sudanese expatriate Hani Abdalla from Riffa, who has been learning the language for a year, noted that he became interested after visiting Russia.
“I love how expressive and unique it is. Learning Russian has given me the opportunity to connect with people from different backgrounds and gain a deeper understanding of the culture,” added the 36-year-old senior systems administrator at Arab Open University.
Bahraini athlete Ali Saleh from Amwaj has been pursuing his interest in Russian for 11 years.
“What I love most about the Russian language is its expressiveness and emotional depth. It allows people to convey subtle feelings and ideas in a very beautiful way. I also admire the richness of Russian literature, from the classic works of writers such as Alexander Pushkin, Leo Tolstoy and Fyodor Dostoevsky to modern authors,” added the 39-year-old.
In addition to Bahrainis, there is a growing interest among Kuwaiti and Saudi students to learn the language, Community Compatriots founder Anna Vladimir noted. The Bahrain resident of 13 years is a champion of Russian arts and culture in the kingdom and also board member and international relations director at Bahrain-Russia Friendship Society – an active non-profit organisation dedicated to enhancing economic, cultural and social ties between the two countries.
“We have observed that when we introduce our art, music, science and history, many people are interested and attend our events. They express interest to stage joint projects as well,” she said.
Established three years ago, the Russian-speaking Community Compatriots, in collaboration with the Russian Embassy, will stage an event in Saar on June 13, marking both Russian Language Day and Russia Day celebrated annually on June 12. The programme will feature themed activities for children, plays, poem readings and songs, among other things.
In the past, the platform has organised Pushkin Readings, showcasing the author’s works, which are attended by Russian residents and other Russian-speaking nationalities alike.
Another local platform promoting Russian literature and language in Bahrain is the book club founded by Russian expatriate and artist Alexandra Novik-Khamis.
“We have more than 500 members including Bahrainis, Egyptians, Emiratis, Europeans, Indians, Jordanians, Saudis and more,” said Ms Novik-Khamis, who specialises in Russian language education and Russian studies in Bahrain.
On the sidelines of the reading group, the linguist regularly works on translations from Russian into English and organises cultural, literary and educational events.
She highlighted that the book club is planning an online event to mark Russian Language Day and Russia Day, more details for which will be announced later.
Presently, there are around 2,000 Russian residents and tourists in Bahrain.
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