when my sister and i were little, our parents took us to liepja for dancing lessons. back then, we had to drive ten kilometers to rehearsals. dancing has been an integral part of my life ever since. no matter how much the festival brings people together, russia's war against ukraine has still put a strain on relations between latvians and russians. a small percentage of the russian-born population supports the putin regime. but many latvians don't blame the russian people for the war. the people there are not to blame for the war. russia's not the problem; it's the leadership. the civilians can't influence much at the moment. they lack the courage to stand up and say something. but for us latvians, it also took years to get this far and regain freedom with the singing revolution. alina, too, says she doesn't harbor resentment towards the russian people for the war. nor is she indifferent about the fate of her old homeland, russia. i've always felt sorry for the country - the country, not the state - i always liked the people better than the state. when i lived in russ

when my sister and i were little, our parents took us to liepja for dancing lessons. back then, we had to drive ten kilometers to rehearsals. dancing has been an integral part of my life ever since. no matter how much the festival brings people together, russia's war against ukraine has still put a strain on relations between latvians and russians. a small percentage of the russian-born population supports the putin regime. but many latvians don't blame the russian people for the war. the people there are not to blame for the war. russia's not the problem; it's the leadership. the civilians can't influence much at the moment. they lack the courage to stand up and say something. but for us latvians, it also took years to get this far and regain freedom with the singing revolution. alina, too, says she doesn't harbor resentment towards the russian people for the war. nor is she indifferent about the fate of her old homeland, russia. i've always felt sorry for the country - the country, not the state - i always liked the people better than the state. when i lived in russ