Krievi – the Latvian name for Russians – is a documentary project about the Russian community of Latvia.
Historically, Latvia has always had strong bonds with the Russian Federation. Modest in size, the country has been largely dependent on its big neighbour, which has defined Latvia’s political climate and economic development.
In the 20th century, the period of independence was glorious but brief; having gained autonomy in 1918, Latvia was compelled to join the Soviet Union at the outbreak of World War II. Highly centralized, the USSR was effectively functioning as a single country, which contributed to the high level of internal migration. During the Soviet era, the number of Russians permanently living in Latvia increased by nearly five fold. The largest ethnic minority in the country, Russians currently form approximately one third of the Latvian population.
Different generations, unique destinies, diverse experiences and contrasting opinions brought together in this body of work draw a complex image of the lives of Russians in contemporary Latvia.
