ALL ANTWERP: “Certainly the Russians who do not know what Putin is doing, need to get their heart out” (Antwerp)
© Joris Herregods
Every weekday our reporter and photographer pick a casual passer-by off the street for a nice conversation. Want everyone has a story. And certainly in Antwerp. Today: Hilde Nuyts (47).
Elien Van Wynsberghe
“Normally I travel to Russia one week a month for my job. I work for a logistics company that has its office on Noorderlaan. But of course traveling to Russia is not possible now. I do regret that. Russia rightly gets a lot of negative comments, but if you know a lot of people there personally like I do, it feels a bit unfair. There’s nothing to do with what’s happening. They are very lovely people. Shave all Russians with the same brush, that seems a bit harsh.”
“I still have daily contact with the people I normally visit in Saint Petersburg. When we have a digital team meeting, the war is not discussed, then that is a theme that is avoided. But if you speak to the people one by one, that one will happen. Definitely not something. They need to talk about it. They don’t always find a sounding board in Russia and they can even vent.”
“Yes, I really hope I can travel back there in September. Do you want to talk to people digitally, at a distance. And Saint Petersburg is such a beautiful city. Many people do not choose to go to Russia, but it is really beautiful. It’s a shame that it now has such a negative connotation.”