Expert on Mikhail Lermontov's ties with Azerbaijan

The 200th anniversary of Russian poet Mikhail Lermontov's birth is going to be celebrated this year. The poet went to the Caucasus several times and also wrote about the region in his poems. Vestnik Kavkaza discussed Lermontov's ties with the Caucasus and in particular with Azerbaijan with Dr. Sona Mamedova, an associate professor at Sumgait State University. 

Lermontov visited Azerbaijan when he was exiled to the Caucasus for the first time, after he wrote a poem about Alexander Pushkin's death, the scholar says. In his poem Lermontov explicitly blamed the Russian court and probably the Tsar himself for Pushkin's departure. 

While in Azerbaijan, Lermontov met famous Azerbaijani enlightener Mirza Fatali Akhundov and started learning the Azerbaijani language. The poet even translated the Turkish fairy tale "Ashik Kerib" from the Azerbaijani. 

According to the scholar, Azerbaijan cherishes Lermontov's heritage and the country is going to celebrate the coming anniversary of his birth.