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

Woe From Wit (bilingual)

Woe From Wit (bilingual)

One of the most famous works of Russian literature, the four-act comedy in verse Woe from Wit skewers staid, nineteenth century Russian society, and it positively teems with “winged phrases” that are essential colloquialisms for students of Russian and Russian culture.
Faith & Humor: Notes from Muscovy

Faith & Humor: Notes from Muscovy

A book that dares to explore the humanity of priests and pilgrims, saints and sinners, Faith & Humor has been both a runaway bestseller in Russia and the focus of heated controversy – as often happens when a thoughtful writer takes on sacred cows. The stories, aphorisms, anecdotes, dialogues and adventures in this volume comprise an encyclopedia of modern Russian Orthodoxy, and thereby of Russian life.
Fearful Majesty

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.
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.
The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

This exciting new trilogy by a Russian author – who has been compared to Orhan Pamuk and Umberto Eco – vividly recreates a lost world, yet its passions and characters are entirely relevant to the present day. Full of mystery, memorable characters, and non-stop adventure, The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas is a must read for lovers of historical fiction and international thrillers.  
Jews in Service to the Tsar

Jews in Service to the Tsar

Benjamin Disraeli advised, “Read no history: nothing but biography, for that is life without theory.” With Jews in Service to the Tsar, Lev Berdnikov offers us 28 biographies spanning five centuries of Russian Jewish history, and each portrait opens a new window onto the history of Eastern Europe’s Jews, illuminating dark corners and challenging widely-held conceptions about the role of Jews in Russian history.
The Frogs Who Begged for a Tsar (bilingual)

The Frogs Who Begged for a Tsar (bilingual)

The fables of Ivan Krylov are rich fonts of Russian cultural wisdom and experience – reading and understanding them is vital to grasping the Russian worldview. This new edition of 62 of Krylov’s tales presents them side-by-side in English and Russian. The wonderfully lyrical translations by Lydia Razran Stone are accompanied by original, whimsical color illustrations by Katya Korobkina.
At the Circus (bilingual)

At the Circus (bilingual)

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.
Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

Stargorod is a mid-sized provincial city that exists only in Russian metaphorical space. It has its roots in Gogol, and Ilf and Petrov, and is a place far from Moscow, but close to Russian hearts. It is a place of mystery and normality, of provincial innocence and Black Earth wisdom. Strange, inexplicable things happen in Stargorod. So do good things. And bad things. A lot like life everywhere, one might say. Only with a heavy dose of vodka, longing and mystery.

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