Why People From Former Soviet Countries Are Coming

[MosJan]

In 1991, the Berlin Wall came down, the cement blocks were crushed and many Soviet satellite nations gained independence. With this new-found freedom came economic hardship, religious persecution of the non-dominant “new” religion and an ability to immigrate — if selected.

 

“We left at the time when it was the most devastating: no water, electricity or power,” said Nuné Mirzoyan. “We were starving and it was impossible.”

 

Armenia had suffered economic hardship and a war with neighboring Islamic-dominated Azerbaijan. The Mirzoyans became refugees, and after years of harsh circumstances the family was sponsored by Staunton Grace Christian Church. A little more than six years ago, the church helped Samuel Mirzoyan find an engineering job and his wife and two sons an apartment.

 

“We were so welcomed. People prepared an apartment for us with everything in it. And I mean everything,” Nuné Mirzoyan said.

In neighboring Kazakhstan, another former Soviet Republic, the dominant religion is Islam. Toly Kalashnikov fled to the Valley with his family five years ago because of what he termed “ethnic problems.” His father, a former speed skating coach, is working in construction.

Ben Zudilin, also of Kazakhstan, said there are more opportunities in the United States. At one time, he had eight relatives living in a three-bedroom apartment in Harrisonburg.

 

“Most of my uncles, aunts and grandmothers are now here,” Zudilin said.

 

Garotb Borodin, who immigrated to Bridgewater from Kazakhstan almost nine years ago, said religion is a big part of the reason for coming to the United States.

 

“My dad said that he didn’t want us to go through what he did — Christian persecution,” said Sergei Kvitko of Kyrgyzstan. “When they opened the doors to come to America, we did.”

 

Kvitko’s wife Barbara Zaphrozyea is from the Ukraine. The couple first lived in Los Angeles where they learned English. Their pastor helped them assimilate. Then they heard of relatives in the Valley and thought the smaller community would be simpler.

 

Others from the Ukraine, like Victor Klopov, said they were looking for new opportunities. Nina Zotov from Belarus agrees.

“My parents were looking for more freedom to do things they wanted to. They came here and started all over,” Zotov said.

 

But Svetlana and Pavel Khilkovich, Baptists from Belarus, cited religious persecution from the Russian Orthodoxy as a reason for leaving their homeland. The couple came as refugees, but were invited by their relatives who reside in Harrisonburg.

 

“It is better there now. Before you were ridiculed in school. They didn’t want people gathering,” Svetlana Khilkovich said.

 

Andrey Klimenko from Latvia said, “I want to live in America. There are much better people here. Less problems.”

 

Many Valley immigrants from the atheist former Soviet republics agree with Mirzoyan when she says, “God was very faithful to us.”

 

Originally published April 21, 2005

http://www.newsleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar...1/50420001/1002