Last Thursday evening (20 June), Russian human rights activists Alexander and Galina Goncharenko met with local civil society activists at the Literature Café of the Gymnasiums Christianeum of Hamburg.

The evening was led by Mr Björn Maydell, head of the Literature Café.

Executive Director Martina Baeurle made an introductory speech and showed a film about the Hamburg Foundation for Politically Persecuted Persons .

Then Alexander and Galina told about their many years of human rights and opposition activities in Russia, about the reasons for their emigration to Kazakhstan and then to Germany.

In Russia, Alexander Goncharenko was arrested in absentia and put on an interstate wanted list for "discrediting" the Russian army .

From September 2022 to August 2023, they were guests of the Hamburg Foundation for Assistance to Politically Persecuted Persons.

In exile, Alexander and Galina participate in the activities of the Russian-speaking community Anti-War Hamburg.

In addition, with the support of Martina Baeurle, they are implementing their project: "Psychological assistance to victims of war in Ukraine".

Project leader Alexander Goncharenko said that forty women war refugees from Ukraine received psychological help during four training seminars, that the project is not limited to seminars only, and for further communication there is a WhatsApp group "Psychological help to victims of war in Ukraine".

He said that in 2024 there will still be psychological training seminars in July, September and November. For participation in the seminars, 83 female participants applied.

Alexander and Galina answered many questions of those present.

At the end of the event, Alexander Goncharenko thanked all those present for their active civic position, for the friendly atmosphere of the meeting, for the warmth of heart, for not indifferent to the fate of Russian political emigrants and Ukrainian refugees.

The donations collected during the charity evening will be used to help Ukrainian refugees.

Photo 1. Galina and Alexander Goncharenko at one of the anti-war actions in Hamburg;

Photo 2. Martina Baeurle;

Photo 3. Bjorn Maydell and Alexander Goncharenko (from left to right).

Photo 4. Galina Goncharenko, far right

Last weekend (6 - 7 April 2024) in the picturesque place of Hamburg, on the territory of Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Ortsverband Hamburg-Mitte e.V. (ASB) , a regular seminar-training "Psychological assistance to victims of war in Ukraine" took place.

The seminar was attended by women from Kharkiv, Mariupol (Donetsk region), Balakleya (Kharkiv region), Odessa, Kiev, Severodonetsk (Luhansk region) of Ukraine.

The project, within the framework of which seminars and trainings are held, was prepared and implemented by a married couple from Russia, Alexander and Galina Goncharenko, who are in political exile in Germany.

Ukrainian professional psychologist Alla Danilich-Skakun acted as a speaker and trainer at this seminar.

Professionalism of the psychologist, experience and willingness to help the organisers, Ukrainian national cuisine from ASB chefs, forest air of spring helped to make a friendly team of women, most of whom had not been acquainted before, for two days and get a charge of hope and optimism.

As it is already a tradition, at the end of the workshop the project team and the participants were summarised.

The Ukrainians thanked the project team, hosts of the venue and sponsors for their help and support in a difficult life situation.

They expressed hope that the project will be continued and many more refugees will be able to receive psychological help.

In addition, the participants of the event proposed a number of new ideas for further promotion and expansion of the project.

Project manager Alexander Goncharenko noted that forty women war refugees from Ukraine received psychological help during four training seminars, that the project is not limited to seminars, and for further communication there is a WhatsApp group "Psychological Assistance to Victims of War in Ukraine".

He noted the great practical role of Martina Baeurle, Managing Director of the Hamburg Foundation for Politically Persecuted Persons, in the realisation of the project.

He also thanked Günter Arndt, Head of ASB, for hospitality and financial support of the seminar.

Alexander Goncharenko believes that the project still fulfils a peculiar role of people's diplomacy. Rulers come and go, and Russian and Ukrainian peoples are geographically "doomed" to be neighbours. He hopes that sooner or later peace will come between the countries and good neighbourly relations will be restored.