Welcoming Refugees on the Fringes of the Empire: Actors and Places of Aid to Ukrainians in Estonia and Latvia

Emerging Russian Diasporas and Anti-war Movements Research Network (ERDAM)

20 February 2025, 12:00–13:30 CET, online

Following Russia's large-scale aggression against Ukraine in February 2022 a vast movement of exiles has taken multiple migratory routes across Europe, challenging the receiving capacities of the welcoming countries. Neighbouring Estonia and Latvia have played a significant role in receiving refugees fleeing the Russian-occupied territories. In our presentation, we'll be looking at the citizen and associative solidarity that facilitated the emergency arrival of exiles from Ukraine, including experiences of Russian immigrants working for/with Ukrainian refugees.

While the reception in the Baltic States are similar to those in other European Union countries, they also raise specific questions, resurfacing issues from the past and highlighting the specific nature of contemporary arrangements. They also raise questions about the original forms of solidarity in post-imperial Eastern Europe.

The presentation will firstly focus on the personal trajectories of people who have taken care of Ukrainian refugees. Secondly, it will examine historically contested and shared sites of hospitality. Thirdly, we will reflect on how hospitality encourages the emergence of “reflexivities” among hosts in the face of "unravelling social bonds" and "forges new ties" between people and places.

This research is based on field work carried out in Tallinn and Riga between December 2022 and June 2024, highlighting the importance of biographical trajectories, hosting sites and the temporality of mutual assistance in dealing with newly-arrived immigrants. The study is based on interviews with volunteers and on-site observations.

Speakers
Prof. Dr. Françoise Daucé (EHESS; CERCEC)
Prof. Dr. Anne le Huérou (Paris Nanterre University; Institut des Sciences Sociales du Politique)

Discussant
Prof. Dr. Inta Mieriņa (University of Latvia)

Moderation
PD Dr. Tsypylma Darieva (ZOiS)

The online event can be accessed via this Zoom link (no registration required): https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83610063316?pwd=JrI97sleDi8FwHCS67bqqhQviwHIrE.1

For further questions or information, please contact domas.lavrukaitis(at)zois-berlin(dot)de.