AKSHİN BABAYEV 

Azerbaijani: Aqşin Əlisəttər oğlu Babayev
23 November 1936 – 10 June 2020 

was an Azerbaijani playwright, novelist, poet, journalist, Doctor of Philology, professor, orientalist (Turkish Studies). A. Babayev’s works focused on problems of identity, responsibility, morality and commitment. The use of irony is a significant feature of his many short stories. 

Akshin Babayev was born in 1936 in Baku. Following his graduation from the philological faculty of Azerbaijan State University he continued with postgraduate studies.

As a journalist, he started at the newspapers and radio and then for fifteen years was Chairman of Azerbaijan State Radio. Three years, he was working in Turkey. From 1991 through 2006, he worked as head of press and information of the Parliament. During 10 years, he was a special correspondent of the newspaper Moscow News, edited in English, French, Arabic, and Spanish. 

His works have been translated into Russian, Turkish, English, German, Georgian, Moldovan and other languages. He is also well known for his television, radio, and theatre works. He had written over 40 books, some of them edited in Moscow, Izmir and Berlin. 

Apart from being a professional writer, he was also a teacher and many years worked as head of the academic department at Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Art.