Home on the border

Home on the Border is a project about the post-Soviet border areas with the multi-ethnic population and multicultural communities. The geography of our project includes Republic of Moldova, Transdniestria – unrecognized republic separated from Moldova, and surrounding areas.en.homeontheborder.com

Home on the Border is a project about the post-Soviet border areas with the multi-ethnic population and multicultural communities. The geography of our project includes Republic of Moldova, Transdniestria – unrecognized republic separated from Moldova, and surrounding areas. These areas are characterized by complex national and ethnic composition and require careful exploration, because the process of post-Soviet transformation is still not complete here. This process continues and requires fixation and research.

About 200 years ago the territory that is Transdniestria now (unrecognized state formally under the jurisdiction of Moldova, but not controlled by it in fact) was a part of the Russian Empire. The Russian government invited foreign colonists to develop these uninhabited border areas. One of the steppe valleys, adjoined to the Dniester River from the East, was given to the German immigrants. The first colony was called Glückstal that means ‘the valley of happiness’ in German. During the next 10 years 14 German colonies appeared in the Valley and the whole area became Glückstal Colonist District.

Glüсkstal is the first part of the project Home on the Border which focuses on the Bessarabia Germans living on the territory of Transdniestria.

Authors:

Anton Polyakov - photographer

Anna Galatonova - videographer

Maxim Polyakov - journalist

Website of the project:

homeontheborder.com