I love history, cultural heritage and nature of my country, archeology and wooden architecture, local cuisine and beverages. I have broad life experience, having born in the USSR and witnessed many events, happened in this part of the world.My military background (10 years service in the Soviet Army, starting as soldier in Eastern Germany and ending as Captain in Latvia, including participation in the Afghan war) and my vast international experience (15 years in the UNHCR in different countries, including Yemen, Iran, Pakistan, Russia, Serbia) allow me to be a good source of interesting and sometimes unique information and find common language with everybody.

Numerous hobbies include snowboarding, scuba diving, paragliding, metal detecting.