LATVIA-RUSSIA-UKRAINE Riga gives a lesson in peace

Since March, the “Common Ground” project has been running, in which Latvians and Russians help Ukrainian refugees to trust in a better future. Many volunteers have come, especially from Russia.

Moscow () – In Riga, the capital of former Soviet Latvia, a unique project of its kind has been operating since March: “Common Ground”, in which Latvians and Russians help Ukrainian refugees to trust in a better future. The website of jellyfish reported on the operation of this “cultural center”, where one can not only find food and clothes, but also listen to lectures, study the Latvian language and enjoy board games.

Before February 24, the center used to organize the Riga contemporary art biennale, which was canceled this year due to the war near its borders. Journalist Irina Ščerbakova visited the venue where the activities take place, a building that until recently was abandoned. Now, everything looks neat and colorful and delicious ice cream cones are distributed. The Biennale’s director, Inessa Dabola, says she is absolutely convinced that “in the 21st century, all conflicts can be resolved peacefully”, but from time to time she asks herself the following question: what should we do if military actions of our side?

The most obvious answer was that “I would gather my loved ones and go as far away as possible. However, when Russia invaded Ukraine, I realized that I was not going anywhere.” When she and the whole team got to work, they realized that they could no longer deal with exhibitions and display materials, so Dabola founded Common Ground together with two other women, the Petersburg painter Anastasia Blokhina and the director of Ieva Irbina orchestra, preparing a place “to be together in peace”.

Since the first days of the war, activities have been frenetic. Telephone numbers were exchanged with groups of people evacuated from Ukraine. Hundreds of messages were sent on Telegram, where many asked under what conditions they could move to Latvia, one of the most open and peaceful countries in Soviet and later history, with great integration between Baltic, Slavic and other nationalities, including many immigrants. Asian labor. Since the end of February, a website dedicated to the project has been up and running and the community has come to life.

The idea was to create an entity “that would complement what public institutions do”, explains Blokhina, after processing visas and documents and enrolling in schools and health services, “we thought of something socio-cultural”. Inessa adds that “this is very important, people suddenly arrive in a foreign country, with another language. Even if you have humanitarian aid, what do you do? Common Ground renovated a centenary building of the train station on Andrejostas street, to 15 minutes on foot from the center of the capital, restoring it with the help of friends and acquaintances.

On the first of March, up to 80 people – Russians, Latvians and Ukrainians who have lived in Riga for a long time and came to the country fleeing the war – presented themselves under the large windows of the ruined building: “We don’t know how they found out about the place, but They wanted to help.” Anastasia says: “In just three hours we did what we thought would take a day,” and the technical director complained that his people weren’t ready to repaint everything yet, so someone brought out brushes and paint cans and “it was like a miracle”.

In two weeks, working from 8 in the morning to 11 at night, everything was properly prepared. “We spent almost nothing,” explains Blokhina, “people brought us everything, and when we thought about plants and flowers, after two days 50 plants and arrangements arrived from the Botanical Garden.” The neighbors brought an avalanche of children’s books, an old lady showed up with a fig tree that she herself had grown on her terrace. The divans came for free from a furniture company in town.

Dabola explains that “it was actually a selfish gesture: we wanted to show that we were stronger than the terror that has been imposed on us.” Many volunteers came especially from Russia, having heard about Common Ground in the media which is still accessible. Torn apart by guilt, but wishing not to fall into apathy and depression, they reached out to try to create common ground together.