http://www.lightstalkers.org/galleries/contact_sheet/24343 "Territory of Broken Dreams" 2007 My photos were taken in a few villages in Tver Province in Central Russia, about 300 km away northeast of Moscow. For many inhabitants of big cities in Russia, the rest of the country simply doesn’t exist. Yet you don't have to go far from Moscow or Saint-Petersburg to find dying villages, where people live in a state of extreme deprivation. There you meet abandoned old folk who have spent their lives working on collective farms; middle-aged men and women who have no jobs, rarely young people or children. Villages that used to be thriving, with shops, libraries and clubs, now number only a handful of occupied houses. There is no community spirit or social life. Instead the a bucolic rural life, there is despair, alcohol abuse, crime and solitude. This is a phenomenon of life in Russia - villages that disappear in a country which used to be an agricultural one. Under Lenin and Stalin, peasants' land was expropriated and they were forced to work on collective farms, without proper wages or the right to travel. Dismantling the system has left people stranded. http://www.lightstalkers.org en-us http://images.lightstalkers.org/avatars/13613/demenkova_small.jpg http://www.lightstalkers.org/Alexandra Demenkova <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001655/01_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001655'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001655 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:03:41 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001655 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001655/01_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001655'>view full-size image</a> Alexandra Demenkova <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001658/02_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001658'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001658 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:04:23 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001658 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001658/02_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001658'>view full-size image</a> Alexandra Demenkova <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001661/03_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001661'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001661 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:04:53 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001661 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001661/03_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001661'>view full-size image</a> Alexandra Demenkova <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001664/04_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001664'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001664 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:05:23 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001664 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001664/04_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001664'>view full-size image</a> Alexandra Demenkova <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001667/05_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001667'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001667 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:05:58 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001667 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001667/05_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001667'>view full-size image</a> Alexandra Demenkova <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001670/06_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001670'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001670 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:09:51 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001670 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001670/06_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001670'>view full-size image</a> Alexandra Demenkova <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001673/07_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001673'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001673 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:10:20 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001673 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001673/07_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001673'>view full-size image</a> Alexandra Demenkova <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001676/08_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001676'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001676 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:10:53 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001676 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001676/08_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001676'>view full-size image</a> Alexandra Demenkova <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001679/09_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001679'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001679 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:11:28 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001679 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001679/09_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001679'>view full-size image</a> Alexandra Demenkova <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001682/10_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001682'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001682 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:12:01 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001682 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001682/10_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001682'>view full-size image</a> Alexandra Demenkova <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001685/11_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001685'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001685 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:12:29 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001685 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001685/11_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001685'>view full-size image</a> Alexandra Demenkova <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001688/12_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001688'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001688 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:12:59 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001688 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001688/12_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001688'>view full-size image</a> Alexandra Demenkova <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001691/13_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001691'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001691 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:13:29 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001691 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001691/13_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001691'>view full-size image</a> Alexandra Demenkova <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001694/14_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001694'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001694 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:13:57 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001694 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001694/14_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001694'>view full-size image</a> Alexandra Demenkova <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001697/15_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001697'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001697 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:14:26 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001697 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001697/15_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001697'>view full-size image</a> Alexandra Demenkova <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001700/16_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001700'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001700 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:14:55 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001700 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001700/16_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001700'>view full-size image</a> Alexandra Demenkova <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001703/17_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001703'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001703 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:15:31 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001703 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001703/17_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001703'>view full-size image</a> Alexandra Demenkova <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001706/18_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001706'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001706 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:16:03 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001706 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001706/18_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001706'>view full-size image</a> Alexandra Demenkova <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001709/19_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001709'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001709 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:16:37 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001709 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001709/19_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001709'>view full-size image</a> Alexandra Demenkova <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001712/20_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001712'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001712 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:17:12 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001712 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001712/20_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001712'>view full-size image</a> Alexandra Demenkova <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001715/21_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001715'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001715 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:17:47 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001715 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001715/21_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001715'>view full-size image</a> Alexandra Demenkova <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001718/22_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001718'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001718 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:18:16 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001718 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001718/22_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001718'>view full-size image</a> Alexandra Demenkova <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001721/23_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001721'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001721 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:18:47 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001721 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001721/23_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001721'>view full-size image</a> Alexandra Demenkova <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001724/24_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001724'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001724 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:19:27 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001724 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001724/24_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001724'>view full-size image</a> Alexandra Demenkova <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001727/25_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001727'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001727 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:20:06 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001727 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001727/25_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001727'>view full-size image</a> Alexandra Demenkova <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001730/26_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001730'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001730 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:20:36 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001730 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001730/26_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001730'>view full-size image</a> Alexandra Demenkova <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001733/27_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001733'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001733 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:21:10 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001733 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001733/27_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001733'>view full-size image</a> Alexandra Demenkova <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001736/28_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001736'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001736 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:21:46 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001736 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001736/28_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001736'>view full-size image</a> Alexandra Demenkova <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001739/29_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001739'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001739 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:22:24 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001739 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001739/29_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001739'>view full-size image</a> Alexandra Demenkova <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001742/30_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001742'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001742 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:22:54 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001742 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001742/30_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001742'>view full-size image</a> Alexandra Demenkova <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001745/31_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001745'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001745 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:23:28 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001745 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1001745/31_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1001745'>view full-size image</a> Alexandra Demenkova