Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) will be hosting a seminar "Empowering migrants' adaptation in Nordic and Baltic Societies". The event will take place on 28 and 29 August, at 11.00-16.00, in Room B-205 of the main building (16 Dzirciema iela).

The seminar will bring together scholars and NGO activists from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, and Georgia. Anyone who is interested is welcome to listen to the presentations and join the conversation.

Russia's war in Ukraine has triggered new flows of human migration to the European Union. Ukrainians seek refuge from war, Russians – from political repression. The Nordic countries, which have been committed to the principle of openness, have now started to restrict their immigration policies. Meanwhile, the Baltic States, which have their own experience of refugees and deportations, are ambivalent about this new phenomenon. It is important to recognise that migrants and refugees have similar basic needs, but some groups are in unique circumstances. Host countries perceive this as a challenge to their welfare systems, economies, culture, and security. The aim of the seminar is to exchange information relevant to particular countries and migrants and generate new knowledge on the adaptation and integration of asylum seekers in Nordic and Baltic societies.

The seminar is organised by RSU in cooperation with the University of Helsinki and financially supported by the Nordic Council of Ministers.

Programme

Day 1, 28.08.2023

11.00
Introduction by Dr Larisa Kangaspuro, leader of the project “Multinational Migrants: Ways of Adaptation in the Nordic and Baltic Countries”, Centre for Nordic Studies, University of Helsinki, Finland

11.15 – 12.00
Dr Inta Mierina, assoc. professor, Director of the Centre for Diaspora and Migration Research, University of Latvia, Riga.
“Intercultural stereotypes and attitudes towards migrants in the Nordic - Baltic region”

12.00 – 12.30
Dr Larisa Kangaspuro, Centre for Nordic Studies, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Introduction of the project “Multinational Migrants: Ways of Adaptation in the Nordic and Baltic Countries”

12.30 – 13.00
Nikolay Ovchinnikov, editor-in-chief of "Volna Latvia", Riga, Latvia.
Small but important. How local media can help migrants adapt to the new environment?”

15.00 – 15.30
Anastasia Burakova, the «Ark» (Kovcheg) project, Project Founder, human rights activist). Tbilisi, Georgia.
“Russian exiles community after February 24, 2022 in the Baltic and the Nordic countries: impact on political agenda inside Russia”

15.30 – 16.00
Sabīne Sīle, Director of Media Hub Riga, Latvia. 
“The wave of migration over the last year of independent media workers and human rights activists’ representatives from Belarus and Russia. Challenges and opportunities related to it”

Day 2, 29.08.2023

11.15 – 11.45
Dr Markku Kangaspuro, director of the Aleksanteri Institute at the University of Helsinki, Finland 
“Hierarchization of immigrants in public discourse in the Nordic and Baltic Societies”

11.45 – 12.15
Dr Sherzod Eraliev, postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Sociology of Law, Lund University, Sweden. 
“Migrant Legal Adaptation and Integration in Nordic Societies: The Case of Central Asian Migrants in Sweden”

12.15 – 12.45
Dr Natalia Abrosimova, chairwoman of NGO Erzya-Moksha Society of Culture "Syatko", Tallinn, Estonia. "Об интеграции и сохранении своей идентичности финно-угорских народов Эстонии (на примере эрзяно-мокшанского общества культуры "Сятко")"

14.15 – 14.45
Dr Sergei Kruk, professor at the Faculty of Communication, Riga Stradins University, Latvia.
“Pluralism anxiety: Evolution of the integration concept in Latvian policy documents, 1998-2023”

14.45 – 15.15
Konstantin Fomin, a program director of the Reforum Space Vilnius resource center. Lithuania. 
 “Reforum Space Vilnius case: how we support media, NGOs, and activists forced to leave Russia after February 2022”

Information about the participants

• Dr Larisa Kangaspuro, leader of the project “Multinational Migrants: Ways of Adaptation in the Nordic and Baltic Countries”, Centre for Nordic Studies, University of Helsinki, Finland. The main goal of the project is to help multinational migrants from Russia to better navigate the cultural challenges associated with the preservation of their identity in Nordic and Baltic countries. The project is funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers'.
• Dr Sherzod Eraliev, postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Sociology of Law, Lund University, Sweden. Dr. Eraliev has extensive publications on migration-related topics and is currently researching migrant integration in the Nordic context.
• Dr Natalia Abrosimova, chairwoman of NGO Erzya-Moksha Society of Culture "Syatko", Tallinn, Estonia. It is an independent non-profit organization representing Mordovian migrants from Russia. Their primary focus is on preserving and developing the language and culture of the Mordovians, who are a national minority in multicultural Estonia. Over the past 25 years, this organization has demonstrated the successful realization of national culture within an inclusive and multicultural civil society.
• Konstantin Fomin, a program director of the Reforum Space Vilnius resource center. Lithuania. NGO Reforum Space is a Lithuanian independent non-profit organization aiming to foster people-to-people cooperation in the region by supporting civil society and democratic development. They provide a free co-working space in Vilnius for journalists and activists from Russia, Belarus, and other countries who have been displaced from their usual environments and wish to continue their work. Reforum Space also offers advice from professionals such as lawyers, accountants, and psychologists.
• Anastasia Burakova, the «Ark» (Kovcheg) project, Project Founder, human rights activist). Tbilisi, Georgia. It is currently the world's largest organization dedicated to helping immigrants from Russia who oppose the regime and the war in Ukraine. The NGO also supports Russian emigrants in exile in the Nordic and Baltic regions. Volunteers play a crucial role in providing assistance.
• Dr Markku Kangaspuro, director of the Aleksanteri Institute at the University of Helsinki, Finland. It is a research institute promoting research-based knowledge of Russia, Eastern Europe, and Baltic countries. Their expertise encompasses various aspects of social, political, and cultural development in the region.
• Dr Sergei Kruk, professor at the Faculty of Communication, Riga Stradins University, Latvia. The Faculty of Communication aims to educate undergraduate students in social sciences and post-graduate students in communication sciences with knowledge and competences in journalism and public relations.
• Dr Inta Mierina, assoc. professor, Director of the Centre for Diaspora and Migration Research, University of Latvia, Riga. The Centre for DIaspora and Migration Research at the University of Latvia (CMDR) is the leading organization in migration research in Latvia. Since 2015 CMDR has contributed continuously to the field of migration research providing empirical data and expertise on topics related to emigration and return migration of Latvian nationals, as well as integration of migrants and minorities in Latvia. The work of IPSUL is based on inter-institutional intra-disciplinary collaborations, cooperation various Latvian governmental institutions and other social partners, as well as networking with international institutions and migration researchers worldwide.
• Nikolay Ovchinnikov, editor-in-chief of "Volna Latvia", Riga, Latvia. "Volna" is a web of local media founded in cities where most Russian-speaking immigrant audiences live. "Volna" operates in Riga, Vilnius, Warsaw, Berlin, Belgrade, and Bishkek. Every day we discuss the most essential things that can affect immigrants' lives. In addition, we talk about the culture, language, and history of the countries where we work to get people to know about their new place to live in.
• Sabīne Sīle, Director of Media Hub Riga, Latvia. Since we represent the interests of over 250 exile media workers and 158 of their family members, and have worked with their relocation and integration.