Written ∼ Saykal Asylbekova, Rita Rice; Photos ∼ Aidai Chynarbekova
BISHKEK – On November 8, 2025, at the art residence Solar Sign, writers, musicians, and readers gathered to honor the life and legacy of Oleg Yaroslavovich Bondarenko – a writer, journalist, and publisher whose name is inseparable from the story of modern Kyrgyz literature. The memorial evening was organized by the Cultura Nomada International Foundation, led by Nariste Alieva, with support from students of Ala-Too International University (AIU) and the Music Club creative community.
Titled “Words as a Bridge,” the evening became more than a remembrance – it turned into a living conversation about how language connects generations and remains an anchor through time.
The event opened with Bondarenko’s family. “Oleg always believed that literature could change society — not loudly, but honestly,” said Elena Bondarenko, her quiet words setting a tone of sincerity and light that would define the night.
Nariste Alieva, President of the Cultura Nomada Foundation, called Bondarenko “an earthly angel of Kyrgyz literature” and reminded the audience that it was his initiative that gave rise to the first digital library in Kyrgyzstan – “New Literature of Kyrgyzstan” (www.literatura.kg) – a groundbreaking digital library uniting contemporary authors from Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia and the world.
A video biography of Oleg Bondarenko developed by AIU student Symbat Myrzakanova followed, weaving archival footage and interviews that revealed Bondarenko not only as a writer but as a creator of space – for voices, for texts and meaning.
Dr. Bakhtiyar Koychuev, professor at Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University, noted that Bondarenko “didn’t merely build an archive of texts — he created a place where literature becomes a conversation again: sincere, open, and alive.”
Adding to this reflection, Professor Dr. Alexander Katsev emphasized that Bondarenko’s legacy“represents a cultural foundation that must be studied — not only as literature, but as a phenomenon in digital publishing that redefined how Central Asian voices could be heard in the modern world.” As his words settled in the room, the tone of the evening shifted — from reflection to resonance. Soft piano notes from the Music Club — River Flows in You, Canon in D, Autumn Leaves — flowed gently between the next moments, bridging speech and silence.
The music opened the way for readings from Bondarenko’s short stories – The Miracle, The Fern Flower, Three Poets, and excerpts from The Ghost Plane and other works. Friends, colleagues, and students took turns at the microphone, their voices weaving his words into memory. Poems dedicated to Bondarenko followed, transforming the room – where word became remembrance, and remembrance became art.
In the second half of the evening, an open microphone invited guests to share personal stories – memories of a conversation, a letter, or a book that once altered the course of their lives. What began as a memorial became a dialogue across time, filled with gratitude and quiet laughter.
As the night drew to a close, Elena Bondarenko and Nariste Alieva thanked everyone for keeping Oleg Bondarenko’s spirit alive.“Oleg was not only a talented writer,” Alieva said. “He was a visionary in a blind world – someone who saw light where others saw the shadows. And he has left us his beacon – www.literatura.kg – a place where that light continues to shine.”
When the speeches ended, live music continued into the evening, flowing naturally into a warm tea reception. Conversations lingered, words softened, and the atmosphere turned tender.
That night was not about loss, but about continuity. About how memory is not silence – it is motion. Oleg Bondarenko left behind not only books and an online library, but something far greater: a belief in the enduring power of the word – a bridge that continues to unite hearts long after the hand that built it has gone still.
