Born in Latvia

The Latvian Russians were affected by the political turmoil of the 20th century, many of them became scattered around various countries. The First and the Second World Wars, the change of political regimes, political repressions, economic problems and the search for new career opportunities caused people to leave their homes behind. Their fates turned out in different ways. Some of them succeeded in making brilliant careers for themselves both in their ethnic homeland (Russia) and in countries of emigration. The major part of those Russians who left Latvia never forgot their roots and maintained relations with their native land. Latvia responded to them in kind. In Riga there are streets named after academic Mstislav Keldysh and cinema director Sergey Eisenstein. The people of Latvia hold the memory of Vera Mukhina in esteem for her contribution to preserve the Freedom Monument in Riga from destruction in Soviet times. After long years in oblivion, the name of artist Yevgeny Klimov was brought back home thanks to the endeavours of his former student Margarita Saltupe. In Daugavpils and Rēzekne scientific conferences and social events are regularly held dedicated to the Russian writers born in Latgalia Leonid Dobychin and Yury Tynyanov. The Latvian Society of Russian Culture promoted the publication of the book ‘Corp Ruthenia in Riga and abroad’, which relates the history of this Russian student corporation between 1929 and 1998. Russian cosmonauts Anatoly Solovyov and Alexander Kalery never lost contacts with Latvia were they were born. Riga is also remembered by Mikhail Baryshnikov one of the most outstanding contemporary ballet dancers.