August 09, 2023

Message in the Guestbook: Arina's Story


Message in the Guestbook: Arina's Story
Arina's drawing of herself and her best friend, Alina. The author

In the southern city of Daugavpils, Latvia, the Mark Rothko Art Center stands just a few steps away from the city's eighteenth-century fortress. The museum is a staple for anyone visiting Daugavpils, including Arina G.

Arina G., whose full name has been withheld, is a Russian emigré. Russian Life found her story — and cry for help — in the pages of Mark Rothko Art Center's guestbook.

Arina wrote that, days before arriving in Daugavpils, she was denied a residency permit in Lithuania because she is a Russian citizen. She wrote, "I feel very sad, because I'm trying to escape Russia. I cannot live there any longer, even though it is my home and I love St. Petersburg so much."

Arina's message in the guestbook
Arina's message in the guestbook.

Arina G. is against the war in Ukraine: "I feel terrible for people that [are] still there, or those who left their homes (I even have a friend from Ukraine, he is very cool)." However, she followed this with: "But. Big but: it's unfair for you to keep me in this prison, especially when I don't want to [support the war]."

Arina is not alone.

As a fifth wave of Russian emigration continues, many countries, including Lithuania and Latvia, have denied visas, restricted access, and even banned entry of Russian citizens. Russians who settled abroad long before the war fear losing their residencies and being sent back, especially those who are students.

Those who have managed to stay legally in countries with economic or political ties to Russia risk being extradited. Twenty-year-old political journalist Alexey Voloshinov had to leave Armenia for exactly that reason. Amnesty International Germany has reported that Russian activists and journalists who were able to get Schengen visas automatically become illegal immigrants after 90 days. To any dissenters, even the non-famous like Arina G., a return home could mean a jail sentence. 

Arina G. ends her message: "I don't have a lot of friends, but I wanted to share my sadness with someone. I'm sorry that I was born in Russia." The following page includes a sketch made by Arina of her and her best friend with the inscription: "I wish you were here with me. I love you and miss you."

The guestbook is just a few feet from one of Mark Rothko Art Center's latest exhibits: How Did I Get to the Bomb Shelter? The collaboration between the museum and Ukrainian artists shows works done by Ukrainian artists during Russia's War on Ukraine.

You Might Also Like

A Flood. And Support.
  • August 15, 2023

A Flood. And Support.

Expressing our thanks and optimism amid war, floods, and publishing challenges.
Notes at the Front
  • August 15, 2023

Notes at the Front

More poignant and brave “last words” of dissenters, and a look at one popular place (again) of exile.
Final Thoughts

Final Thoughts

Considering some telling facts and figures from Russia, the war, and where things are now.
The New Dissidents
  • August 14, 2012

The New Dissidents

The three women - Maria Alyokhina, Yekaterina Samutsevich & Nadezhda Tolokonnikova - on trial in Russia for "hooliganism" for their punk rock performance in Savior's Cathedral, made long closing statements last week. While people can debate the women's tactics, it is excruciatingly difficult after reading their statements to doubt that the women are serious, thoughtful and extremely articulate critics of authoritarianism in Russia. #next_pages_container { width: 5px; hight: 5px; position: absolute; top: -100px; left: -100px; z-index: 2147483647 !important; }   #next_pages_container { width: 5px; hight: 5px; position: absolute; top: -100px; left: -100px; z-index: 2147483647 !important; }  
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of Our Books

Tolstoy Bilingual

Tolstoy Bilingual

This compact, yet surprisingly broad look at the life and work of Tolstoy spans from one of his earliest stories to one of his last, looking at works that made him famous and others that made him notorious. 
Okudzhava Bilingual

Okudzhava Bilingual

Poems, songs and autobiographical sketches by Bulat Okudzhava, the king of the Russian bards. 
Turgenev Bilingual

Turgenev Bilingual

A sampling of Ivan Turgenev's masterful short stories, plays, novellas and novels. Bilingual, with English and accented Russian texts running side by side on adjoining pages.
Chekhov Bilingual

Chekhov Bilingual

Some of Chekhov's most beloved stories, with English and accented Russian on facing pages throughout. 
A Taste of Chekhov

A Taste of Chekhov

This compact volume is an introduction to the works of Chekhov the master storyteller, via nine stories spanning the last twenty years of his life.
The Moscow Eccentric

The Moscow Eccentric

Advance reviewers are calling this new translation "a coup" and "a remarkable achievement." This rediscovered gem of a novel by one of Russia's finest writers explores some of the thorniest issues of the early twentieth century.
Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka

Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka

In this comprehensive, quixotic and addictive book, Edwin Trommelen explores all facets of the Russian obsession with vodka. Peering chiefly through the lenses of history and literature, Trommelen offers up an appropriately complex, rich and bittersweet portrait, based on great respect for Russian culture.
Murder and the Muse

Murder and the Muse

KGB Chief Andropov has tapped Matyushkin to solve a brazen jewel heist from Picasso’s wife at the posh Metropole Hotel. But when the case bleeds over into murder, machinations, and international intrigue, not everyone is eager to see where the clues might lead.
Murder at the Dacha

Murder at the Dacha

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin has a problem. Several, actually. Not the least of them is the fact that a powerful Soviet boss has been murdered, and Matyushkin's surly commander has given him an unreasonably short time frame to close the case.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955