Sherzodjon Choriev is an associate professor of the History faculty of the National University of Uzbekistan. In 2014-2018 he conducted his PhD on the basis of archival documents of the National Archive of Uzbekistan and here he found a lot of archival documents on the history of the Baltic nation. So, he came to Latvia for proceed his research at Liepaja University about ethnocultural problems of the Baltic nation in Turkestan.
Sherzodjon Choriev: “In 2016, after receiving information about the Latvian government scholarship (LGS) through scholarship-positions.com, I decided to apply for this grant on the topic “The history of the Baltic nation diaspora in Uzbekistan (1867-2017)”. Applications for a LGS are usually accepted from January to March 31. And I tried to submit the documents in the last ten days of March. But in ten days that year, I didn’t have time to find a supervisor and I couldn’t apply.
In January 2017, I reviewed the list of universities through the scholarship website and sent my documents to the University of Latvia. Two weeks later, I received a support letter from Raimonds Cerūzis, a professor at the Faculty of History and Philosophy at the University of Latvia.
When I was in Latvia, I was impressed by the historic buildings of the University of Latvia and the old city of Riga, the Daugava River and the shore of the Baltic Sea. Sintija Maculevica, the head of the university’s international department, and Martha Wilkausa, the international relations specialist, very warmly welcomed me and set the stage for research with my superviser, Raimonds Cerūzis.
Under the scientific supervision of Raimonds Ceruzis, an article entitled “The history of the Baltic nation diaspora in Uzbekistan (1867-2017)” was published on the basis of materials from the National Archives of Uzbekistan, the State Archives of Latvia andthe National Library of Latvia. Then Raimonds Cerūzis recommended conducting a special research on the topic “The ethnocultural problems of the Baltic nation in Turkestan (1867-1924 yy.)” with the help of a scientific adviser in ethnolinguistics.
In 2018, I prepared a project on the topic "Ethno-cultural problems of the Baltic nation in Turkestan" and sent it to Liepaja University. And finally, 5 days before the deadline for the scholarship, I received a letter of support from Daiga Straupeniece, a researcher at Liepaja University, who agreed to lead my project as a supervisor. Traditionally, the results of the grant will be announced in the first quarter of June. But I was not among the announced grant winners. In November of this year, I received a good news from State Education Development Agency. They contacted me and said that if I want to conduct research, the agency will support my research project and will soon contact Liepaja University. It was an unexpected surprise for me.
When I visited Liepaja in March 2020, it made a lasting impression on me with its ports, beaches and historic buildings. From the first days of my visit, we began research with my supervisor Daiga Straupeniece. On the same day, I was provided with a hostel, access to the library of Liepaja University, and computer equipment. With the help of Daiga Straupeniece and Erika Lauberga, I gave a 14-hour online lecture on the course “The history of the diaspora of the Baltic nation in Uzbekistan 1867-2017” for Liepaja University students during a pandemic.
During the research course, based on materials from the National Archives of Uzbekistan, the State Archives of Latvia and the National Library of Latvia, in cooperation with Daiga Straupenice, we prepared a scientific article “The ethnocultural problems of the Baltic nation in Turkestan (1867-1924 yy.)”.
Working in the Latvian State Archives, I encountered many archival materials not yet studied on the problems of publishing Latvian literature in the Soviet period, and once again participated for the Latvian Government scholarship and again I won this scholarship.
In conclusion, the study carried out with the aid of this grant has clarified much historical information about the long history of cultural, economic and diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and Latvia. These research materials will play an important role in further strengthening cultural, economic and diplomatic ties between Uzbekistan and Latvia.
I recommend that applicants who wish to apply for a Latvian Government scholarship. Firstly, it is very simple to prepare documents for participation in this scholarship than other countries of the world. Secondly, during the grant, anyone can exchange research experience and get information about the Latvian education system. Thirdly, the nature of Latvia, rivers, beaches of historical buildings fascinating anyone.
I would like to thank the Government of Latvia and the Republic of Uzbekistan, my supervisor’s Raimonds Cerūzis and Daiga Straupenice, as well as the heads of the international departments of Latvian and Liepaja universities and the leadership of the National University of Uzbekistan.”
Article is published by the State Education Deevelopment Agency