Russia's war in Afghanistan was a major reason my family and I left Russia. I was approaching draft age and getting in trouble with Soviet authorities, so chances were good that I would be drafted to fight in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan is a place where both countries I have been a citizen of have been at war - Russia in the 80's and US after 9/11. The scar on my body represents the blood lost in Afghanistan. The healing of the scar is a wish for the healing of the people of this region.