The unknown story of 93 young Chileans who were studying in Russia in 1973 and are stranded there after the coup d’état
Recently, an unknown story was published (only text) about 93 young Chileans between 15 and 25 years old who went to study as technicians in agricultural machinery in Russia in 1973. However, just when they arrived in Ajtyrski, the small town that was waiting for them in the middle of the Russian steppe, Pinochet’s coup d’etat takes place in Chile and what would be a 3-year journey lasted for decades. Without listening to their relatives for years, some of whom they believed were dead, they resumed their lives in the middle of the Russian steppe, from where some have not returned in these 45 years.
The young people, most of them from rural areas of Chile, leave with a scholarship from the Soviet Union with the commitment and hope to improve themselves and then return and contribute to the development of the country within the framework of Salvador Allende’s socialist project. After the news of the coup, that reality takes a violent turn, communication with Chile and its relatives is lost, some for more than 20 years … This is how they begin to realize that history had changed and that It was not a possibility. Stranded in the middle of this huge country and without knowing the language, young people must continue their lives. The «93 Ajtirskians» concentrate on their studies and begin to forge a new life in Russia, a history of different migration, which several, without knowing it then, would not make them ever return to their native country.
Over the years, the roads begin to divide, some marry Russian women and begin to work in the field or in different associated jobs; others will study university careers offered by the USSR; some left with the idea of militarizing other regions. This report in particular shows the unknown history of those who still remain in that region that saw them arrive 45 years ago, young people of little more than 15 years old who grew up in the Soviet Union and who remember in the distance a chile from the 70s.
The report focuses on addressing life stories, showing this unknown place on the other side of the world. How was the town that saw them arrive 45 years ago, their professors, translators, friends, wives and children and how 15-year-old youth who could not return at the beginning, set up a life in the steppes where they continue to this day.
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- «And they will never be forgotten» tribute to the fallen in the war in one of the small hills of the area. Region Temriuk, Krai de Krasnodar, Rusia
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- Victor Fuentes and Victor Yañez, both Chileans part of the group who left, remembering the tractor driving lessons on the same property more than 40 years ago. In the background part of the school they attended through the URSS scholarship. Both of them have never returned to Chile. Akhtyrkiy, Russia 2018
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- Chilenos en Volgogrado Al terminar los estudios los jovenes podian optar para estudiar carreras universitarias en la URSS o partir directo a trabajar. Este ultimo fue el caso de este grupo de chilenos que tras terminar los estudios en Ajtirkii se dirijen hacia las cercanias del río Volga a trabajar de maquinistas. Muchos siguen hasta hoy ahí.Chileans in Volgograd When finishing the studies the young men and women could choose to study university careers in the USSR or go directly to work. The latter was the case of this group of Chileans who, after finishing their studies in Ajtirkii, headed towards the Volga river to work as machine opperators. Many continue to live there until today.
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- Vladimir, translator of the young Chileans, when he arrived to Ajtirski. He was only a little older than most of the Chileans. He was very attached of the Chileans and shared strongly their uprooting and political cause agains the coupe. He is still in touch with many of them until today. ____________________________________ Vladimir cuando llega a Ajtirski era tan solo un poco mayor que la mayoría de los jovenes, pero no mucho. Se encariña mucho con los jovenes Chilenos y comparte fuertemente el desarraigo y la causa politica.
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- Vladimir Youshkov, Russian translator of the young Chileans from 1973 to 1976, sings «Venceremos», the anthem of the Popular Unit (left wing Chilean party of Salvador Allende) and recites the last speech of Allende before his suicide «The Great Avenues will open». Krasnodar, Russia 2018
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- Photos and items of Víctor Fuentes house. The pictures are of his children and granddaughter. ____________________________________ Articulos de la casa de Victor Fuentes, fotos de sus hijos y nieta junto con otros articulos personales.
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- Víctor Yañez on a rest day
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- Víctor Fuentes getting married in Moscú. After he and his wife got maried they returned to Ajtirskii, her hometown and the town that received him, to spent their lives with their children. She died a couple of years ago.
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- Diego Galvez the doctor Diego says that when the studies in Ajtirskii ended, the USSR offered to study whatever they wanted. He studied medicine at the University Patricio Lumbumba. Diego poses in his consulting with his assistant and his patients meanwhile he talks about how he developed itself in de Soviet Union. Abinsky, Russia, 2018.
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- Casa de Vladimir Youshkov, Vladimir translated the radio every day to the young Chileans with the few news from Chile they had. Pablo Neruda, Salvador Allende and one or another reminder of Chile are still on display at his house. ____________________________________ Vladimir les traducía cada dia a los jóvenes la radio con las pocas noticias de chile que habian . En su repisa aun se lucen Pablo Neruda, Salvador Allende y uno que otro recuerdo de Chile.
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- Víctor Fuentes and Víctor Yañez visit the tomb of Luis Abarca while they call his widow to find out about her and tell them they are there by visiting him. Akhtyrkiy, Russia, 2018
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- Tomb of the deceased Chilean Luis Abarca in Ajtirskii, the town that saw him arrive, and where his widow, children and grandchildren still live. Akhtyrkiy, Russia 2018
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- When traveling the roads it is recurrent to see monuments to the army and to the fallen ones of different wars. ____________________________________ Al recorrer las carreteras es recurrente ver monumentos al ejericto y a los caídos en diferentes guerras.
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- Ivan Contreras , another of the former students, has lived in different parts, he has moved from one country to another in his car working for seasons. Today he lives in Rostov, his situation has allowed him to travel to Chile. ____________________________________ Ivan Cpontreras, ha vivido en doferentes partes, se ha movido de un pais a otro en su automovil trabajando poar temporadas. Hoy vive en Rostov, su situacion le ha permitido vijar a Chile.
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- Photos of Victor Fuentes’ family album. He still does not know why his wife (right) cut that person’s face. Fuentes is moved by the memories of his wife who died of cancer a few years ago. ____________________________________ Fotos del album familiar de Victor Fuentes. Aun no sabe por qué motivo su mujer (derecha) cortó la cara de esa persona. Fuentes se emociona con los recuerdos de su esposa que murió de cancer pocos años atras.
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- Victor Fuentes in the hills of Ajtirskiy Ajtirskiy, Russia 2018
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- Víctor, who continues in Ajtirskii until today, came for the organization of the Working Cooperative Union (CUT) and the Unitary Popular Action Movement (MAPU). Both left wing movements. ____________________________________ Victor quien sigue en Ajtirskii hasta el día de hoy llego por la organizacion de la CUT y el MAPU.
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- Victor Fuentes accompanies Yañez to take the bus after he visited him for a weekend. Fuentes returns Ajtirskii, where he still lives. ____________________________________ Victor fuentes acompaña a Yañez a tomar el bus luego de que este lo visitara un fin de semana. Fuentes regresa Ajtirskii, donde aún vive.
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- Profersor Lilia Aleksandrobna Lilia, translator and professor of the young Chilean, prepares to receive treatment by Dr. Diego Galvez due to a problem in her legs. Diego was a student of Lilia and since then they have had a very close relationship, as a family. Surroundings Abinsky, Russia 2018.
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- Two classic russian Lada automoviles in the sunflower fields of Ajtirskii ____________________________________ Dos cláiscos Lada en campos de maravilla de Ajtirskii
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- Arriving Ajtirskii After reuniting at the bus terminal, Victor Yañez and Omar Cortés, both Chileans, come to visit Ajtirskii. Cortés had not come for 4 years. ____________________________________ Llegada Ajtirskii Luego de juntarse en el terminal de buses, Victor Yañez y Omar Cortés vienen a visitar Ajtirskii. Cortés no venía desde hace 4 años.
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- On the left, the director of the school when the young Chileans arrived, she, and the translator teacher on the right, played a very important role in the lives of the children, says Diego Galvéz, Chilean doctor who lives in the region. They loved them very much, they were treated like their children, because they knew what was happening in Chile and how difficult it was. Akhtyrkiy number 7 School , Akhtyrkiy, Russia.
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- The Chileans who remain in the region meet and visit touristic places remembering their time as students, anecdotes, happy and sad moments that marked them in a life outside of Chile that initially would last three years, but that was extended until today .____________________________________ Los chilenos que quedan en la región se reunen y visitan lugares turísticos recordando su epoca de estudiantes, anécdotas, momentos felices y tristes que los marcaron en una vida fuera de Chile que en un principio duraría tres años, pero que s eextendió hasta hoy.
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- Second marriage of Víctor Yáñez Picture of the second wedding of Víctor Yañez from a family album photo viewing at a dinner with his children. ____________________________________Segundo Matrimonio Victor Yañez Foto de album familiar en cena junto a sus hijos.
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- Víctor Fuentes posed on a road restaurant . Victor, who arrived at 16, has never returned to Chile, but will try to do so next year. Víctor has lived all the time in the region working in different jobs in factories and in fields administered by the USSR. Abinsky, Russia 2018
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- Young Chileans in Ajtirskii outside the residence that was their home for 3 years in the beginning. ____________________________________ Jovenes Chilenos en Ajtirskii afuera de la residencia que fue su hogar por 3 años en el comienzo.
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- On a Sunday they reunited in Ajtirskii. At 8 o’clock in the morning Iván Contreras arrived from Rostov-on-Don. Ivan wanted to wash his car, so everyone assists him in the task. Life in the Soviet Union taught them to do everything together. Work on joint tasks. They say they have that very incorporated. ____________________________________ El dia domingo habian quedado de juntarse en Ajtirskii. A las 8 de la mañana llegaba Ivan Contreras desde Rostov del Don. Ivan quería lavar su auto, todos le asisten en la tarea. La vida en la union soviética les enseño a hacer todo juntos. Trabajar en tareas conjuntas. Relatan que tienen eso muy incorporado.
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- Victor Yañez, Chilean, remembers with nostalgia in the classroom of the N7 School of Ajtirskii ____________________________________ Victor Yañez recuerda nostálgico en el salon de clases de la Escuela N7 de Ajtirskii
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- Chileans in Volgograd When finishing the studies the young men and women could choose to study university careers in the USSR or go directly to work. The latter was the case of this group of Chileans who, after finishing their studies in Ajtirkii, headed towards the Volga river to work as machine opperators. Many continue to live there until today. Footages from the docuemntary «DOCUEMENTAL INCONLUSO» (unfinshed documentary) from 1977 produced by Samariy Zelikin. ____________________________________ Chilenos en Volgogrado Al terminar los estudios los jovenes podian optar para estudiar carreras universitarias en la URSS o partir directo a trabajar. Este ultimo fue el caso de este grupo de chilenos que tras terminar los estudios en Ajtirkii se dirijen hacia las cercanias del río Volga a trabajar de maquinistas. Muchos siguen hasta hoy ahí. Imagenes del documental «Reportaje Inconcluso» de 1977 producido por Samariy Zelikin.
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- Omar Cortéz , one of the former students, visited Chile, in fact he worked there for one year. He worked in minor jobs as a grape cutter, among other activities, but he felt that his life was in Russia and so he returned. He says that his mother thought he was dead, that she had symbolically buried him and that it took her three months to assimilate that it really was him. ____________________________________ Omar Cortéz, a visitado Chile, de hecho trabajó un año alla. Trabajo en trabajos menores como cortador de uvas entre otras actividades, pero sintió que ya su vida era en Rusia y regresó. Cuenta que su madre lo dio por muerto, que hasta lo habia sepultado simbolicamente y que se demoro tres meses en asimilar que realmente era él.
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- Plaza in front of the Casa de la Cultura where the young Chileans attended as a group the different dances. Fights between russians and the chileans after the dances were recurrent, especially the first year. ____________________________________ Plaza frente a la Casa de La cultura donde los jóvenes chilenos asistían en grupo a los diferentes bailes. Era recurrente, sobre todo el primer año, que se dieran riñas y peleas entre chilenos y rusos luego de los bailes.
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- Area of the Russian Steppes from the air. The most yellowish grounds are of sunflower, which is very present in the image of the area.
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- Krasnodar, the background buildings and Soviet monuments. ____________________________________ Krasnodar, el fondo edificios y monumentos soviéticos.
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- Musical band «Chile Lucha»(Chile Resist) formed by the Chilean students in Russia dressed in the style of folkloric Chilean bands such as Quilapayún or Intiillimani. ____________________________________ Conjunto «Chile Lucha» conformado por estudiantes chilenos en Rusia vestidos a la usanza de grupos chilenos como Quilapayún o Intiillimani.
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- Denis and Vittali do not speak Spanish but feel completely Chilean. ____________________________________ Denis y Vittali no hablan castellano pero se sienten chilenos completamente.
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- Photo taken in the school where you can see some of the characters portrayed today as: The director, from white to medium (today with red hair). To her right Victor Yañez with a brown vest. Two more places to the right (left corner of the image) are Victor Fuentes who still lives in Ajtirskii. Lilia Aleksandrobna in the 70s is the woman in the second row from right to left. ____________________________________ Foto tomada en la escula donde se pueden ver personajes hoy retratados como : La directora, de blanco al medio (hoy con pelo rojo). A su derecha Victor Yaéz con chaleco café. Dos lugares mas a la derecha (esquina iquierda de la imagen) se encentra Victor Fuentes quien aun vive en Ajtirskii. La mujer en seguno ligar de derecha a izquierda es Lilia Aleksandrobna en los años 70s.
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- Post-Soviet Real Estate Development in Krasnodar, the closest city to Ajtriskii where Víctor Yañez and other Chileans live. ____________________________________ Desarrollo Inmobiliario postsoviético en Krasnodar, la ciudad mas cercana a Ajtriskii donde vive Víctor Yañez y otros Chilenos.
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- Teachers and students who went to Volgogardo to work as train drivers. ____________________________________ Profesores y alumnos que fueron a Volgogardo a trabajar de maquinistas.
- Descripción
