Draft:Luba Balagova

Luba Hazrat Ali Balagova Kandour (born 7 February 1968) is a Russian-born Circassian poet, author, and film producer based in England.

Early life and education
Balagova was born in the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. She graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Literature from Moscow State University in 1991. She later pursued a PhD in Comparative Literature at the Maxim Gorky Literature Institute.

Career
Balagova was a student when she penned her first poetry book The Lonely Branch, published in 1992.

verse novel Empress Maria (also known as The Empress) about Maria Temryukovna, the Circassian wife of Ivan the Terrible.

Balagova was invited to be an official jury member at the 2013 Monaco International Film Festival.

In 2016, Balagova founded the Sochi International Film Festival and Awards (SIFFA).

Personal life
Balagova is a British citizen and resides in Old Windsor, Berkshire. She was married to the late Jordanian Circassian writer Mohy Quandour (d. 2023). She has two sons, including violinist Aleem Kandour.