"My best friends are from Abkhazia and South Ossetia"

Author: Interview by Sergei Rekeda, Moscow-Volgograd-Moscow, exclusively to VK

Nino Kvernadze moved from Georgia to Russia 10 years ago, in 2007, studying at the Volgograd Medical University with love and respect for Russia and the Russian people and planning to return home and work as a doctor. Her story is not unique, and it proves that the complexity of current Russian-Georgian relations is a political phenomenon and does not affect the public dialogue between the two countries at a deep level.

- Nino, why did you decide to study in Volgograd?

- Since my childhood I wanted to become a doctor. My mom also wanted to be a doctor, so she made every effort for her daughter to choose this profession. The Volgograd Medical University is very good. I am very glad that I study there and have just finished my studies.

- Are you familiar with the views of your fellow countrymen about Russian education?

- The opinion is very positive. Since Soviet times, when we were one country, a view has formed that in Russia you can get a good education. It is even better when you get an education abroad. I'm going to go back to Georgia, and I think it would be prestigious that I was educated in Russia.

- So is it quite common in Georgia to be educated abroad?

- No, it isn’t, if we are talking about Russia. You understand that interstate relations are such that not everyone can come to Russia to graduate from high school and go back. And generally speaking, the phenomenon is quite common. Many are trying to graduate from universities abroad and then work there.

- Where do people from Georgia go to get an education?

- Fewer people go to Russia than to other countries – visas are not being issued. If my relatives want to come here, they will not be able to do this. We are fortunate that we got here before 2008, and now even with a very strong desire this is impossible to do. Until 2008 it was possible to come if you sent an invitation, and now the invitation should be only from a nearest relative, that is, for example, you can invite your mother, brother or husband. A grandmother, uncle, cousin's uncle cannot be invited.

However, I had no difficulty after 2008 during my stay in Russia. I love the Russian people. I've lived here for 10 years and I do not remember any problematic issues. When people talk badly about Russia – I always support the Russians, I always say that this is a very friendly country and anyone in their place would have acted very differently.

- How did you find out about the events of August 2008?

- I go to Georgia every summer, because I have relatives there. During the August events, I was just in the way, and we were told that the war had begun. My first thought was that the police habitually lie. And when I called home, I was told that it was true. It was very scary, because no matter what country is at war, it is still scary. When your country is at war - this is beyond words.

- Was the fact that you live in Russia perceived negatively in Georgia?

- There is no animosity, honestly. If you do not talk about people (Russian or Georgian) associated with the political circles. And so I have a group of best friends - a girl from Abkhazia and a girl from South Ossetia. We do not talk to each other about politics, because the problems still cannot be resolved – we would just quarrel. We are just friends and are not going to leave each other after graduation. And our families are friends – there are no problems. The main thing is that people do not die, regardless of whether these are Georgians, Russian, Ossetians or Abkhazians. It's very hard to lose so many people because of some piece of land. I think it's not worth it.

- Where do you want to build your future career?

- I would like to finish an internship here and then get the opportunity to go to Germany, because there is a very good learning opportunity. I’ll finish my education there and then return home to Georgia. Because I have a family like this: "You’ll certainly go home". This is Georgia, where I was born and grew up, all my relatives are there, and of course I plan to finish my path in Georgia. Our move was forced, because 10 years ago in Georgia it was very hard: there was no work, no money, and every family has their own circumstances. So my father brought us here and worked here.

Now it is much better, because there is water, gas, electricity, roads are being built, there are at least some jobs; my family does not complain that they cannot work. That is, such a change for the better exists. Of course, there are bad features. But good and bad are always together.

- How often do people who have left Georgia return to their homeland?

- If a person is well-grounded and well-lived, he remains here. But still, I think he will come back to where he had relatives, because living alone is hard. Being a young man, he does not feel an attachment to his home, but then still everyone comes back.

- A last question on the eve of Victory Day: is it significant for you personally?

- This is a very important holiday for me. My grandfather fought and returned after being injured, I remember him very well, he died at only 90 years old. Grandpa lived with us very long time, I know a lot after his words. I remember how every May 9 he dressed up and took us with him. His medals are still at home, in a closet. We retain them and we clean them. It is very important for me, for my father, and probably for my children it will also be important. We must not forget this holiday, because we live here due to warriors’ courage. This is a great holiday.