Support Ukrainian authors is the message at London Book Fair: 'We will be very grateful'

The trade fair provided a stand for Ukrainian publishers free of charge

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  Sharjah has taken centre stage at the UK's London Book Fair. Photo: London Book Fair

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  The culture of Sharjah was celebrated in a 'market focus' on the emirate. Photo: London Book Fair

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  Poets Khalid Albudoor and Erica Hesketh in conversation at the event. Photo: London Book Fair

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  Sheikh Fahim Al Qasimi, head of the Government Relations Department in Sharjah, with guests and dignatories at the launch of the London event. Photo: London Book Fair

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  Sharjah's culture was in the spotlight at the fair. Photo: London Book Fair

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  Nigerian poet and novelist Ben Okri spoke about 'Art in a Time of Crisis'. Photo: London Book Fair

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  Crowd's at the fair at Olympia in London. Photo: London Book Fair

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  The children's cafe. Photo: London Book Fair

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  Emirati poet Afra Atiq was author of the day as Sharjah was celebrated. Photo: London Book Fair

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  A 'meet the author' session. Photo: London Book Fair

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  There was a big turnout at the event. Photo: London Book Fair

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  The fair's Author HQ is packed for a TikTok event. Photo: London Book Fair

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  Children's authors of the day Greg James and Chris Smith. Photo: London Book Fair

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  A busy LBF and Illustrators Gallery. Photo: London Book Fair

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  The UAE's colours at London's Olympia. Photo: London Book Fair

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  Ukrainian author Andrey Kurkov and journalist Georgina Godwin discuss 'Dialogues on War'. Photo: London Book Fair

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  Harper Collins authors on display above members of the book trade attending London Book Fair in the UK capital. Getty Images

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  The book fair is taking place at Olympia, west London. Getty Images

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  Sharjah is the Market Focus for the fair in 2022, with a line-up of cultural events celebrating Emirati authors and books. Getty Images

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  The London Book Fair ends on Thursday, April 7. Getty Images

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  The Sharjah Pavilion at The London Book Fair. Photo: Sharjah Book Authority

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  Emirati author Abdulaziz Almusallam (R) taking part in The London Book Fair. Photo: instagram.com/sharjahbookauthority

International publishers are being urged to buy the publishing rights to works by Ukrainian authors.

That's the message to delegates at The London Book Fair from Oleksandr Afonin, president of the Ukrainian Publishers and Booksellers Association.

Delivering a pre-recorded message as part of the panel on The Role of Publishing and Culture During Global Conflict on Tuesday, featuring Bodour Al Qasimi, president of the International Publishers Association, Afonin detailed the damage caused to his native publishing industry as a result of the Russia-Ukraine war.

“It is extremely difficult for the Ukrainian publishing business today. More than two-thirds of the country’s main publishing capacity is in the war zone.

Ukrainian publishers have no money, no paper and a lack of printing capacity. Therefore, we will be very grateful for any help from you

Oleksandr Afonin,
president of the Ukrainian Publishers and Booksellers Association

“As well as warehouses with finished productions, most of which were either destroyed by bombing or not accessible,” he said.

“Ukrainian publishers have no money, no paper and [a] lack of printing capacity. Therefore, we will be very grateful for any help from you, colleagues.

“That can be money, paper, buying rights to publish works by Ukrainian authors, giving the opportunity to print Ukrainian books in your printing houses.”

Afonin also criticised Russian publishing counterparts for releasing works that helped sow the seeds of the conflict happening today.

“For many years, they mass produced literature that cultivated in Russians a hatred of Ukrainians, of our culture and tradition,” he said.

“It was they who put into the minds of their readers the formula that Ukraine is not a state and Ukrainians are not a people and [that] they can be humiliated and destroyed.”

Oleksandr Afonin speaks at The London Book Fair via a pre-recorded video. Saeed Saeed / The National

Afonin supported the moves by major literary events, including the Frankfurt Book Fair and the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, to suspend partnerships with Russian cultural organisations and their presence in events.

The Russian Pavilion is also absent from The London Book Fair.

In an official statement to Publishers Weekly in March, Andy Ventris, director of the fair, said the decision was by “mutual agreement” and based on “following government sanctions and policies in each territory where we operate”.

Ukraine's presence at The London Book Fair is limited to a modest stand run by the Ukrainian Book Institute.

The stand was reportedly provided free of charge by the fair's producer Reed Exhibitions.

The Russia-Ukraine war has been discussed in two sessions of The London Book Fair.

The aforementioned event, featuring Afonin, explored the various ways the international publishing industry can support Ukrainian colleagues.

On Wednesday, the salon Dialogues of War: A Live Conversation on Ukraine featured an online appearance by Andrei Kurkov, president of the Ukrainian chapter of the international writers’ association Pen International.

More information on The London Book Fair is available at londonbookfair.co.uk