Ekkehard Maaß

was born 1951 in Naumburg (on the Saale River). The singer of songs, literary translator and journalist studied Theology and Philosophy in East Berlin. He was barred from further study due to the active stance he took against the expatriation of Wolf Biermann and put under Stasi surveillance because he organised readings in his apartment. He founded the German Caucasus Association, which focuses on the Chechen Republic, and has been its director since 1996. In 1998 he received an award from the Deutschen Nationalstiftung for his commitment to civil and human rights. Ekkehard Maaß lives in Berlin.