The worlds biggest Tourism Fair 2017 in Berlin, Germany.

Sadness on Havana's streets during the days of mourning for Fidel Castro

The GDR Iraqi embassy was built in 1974 based on the fact that Iraq was the first non-socialist country to recognize East Germany back in 1969. Of course this meant a lot for the East Germans considering that they chose and preferred the east over the west. Although things didn't look good after the collapse of the wall in 1990. At that time there were rumours that weapons and explosives were being smuggled into Berlin and stored in the embassy. This was the during the Gulf War. There were also reports confirming the weapons and explosives being hidden in the embassy. After the reunification of Germany and new established government, the GDR Iraqi embassy staff were "kindly" asked to leave in January 1991.
Currently Iraq still has the rights of the embassy but the property is owned by Germany (just like any other embassy around the world which is owned by the country it resides in but the rights belong to the country given to). Although neither the current Iraqi government nor the City of Berlin don't know what to do with the site. The embassy has been left to its faith but in the meantime is waiting to be explored by like minded people.

The GDR Iraqi embassy was built in 1974 based on the fact that Iraq was the first non-socialist country to recognize East Germany back in 1969. Of course this meant a lot for the East Germans considering that they chose and preferred the east over the west. Although things didn't look good after the collapse of the wall in 1990. At that time there were rumours that weapons and explosives were being smuggled into Berlin and stored in the embassy. This was the during the Gulf War. There were also reports confirming the weapons and explosives being hidden in the embassy. After the reunification of Germany and new established government, the GDR Iraqi embassy staff were "kindly" asked to leave in January 1991.
Currently Iraq still has the rights of the embassy but the property is owned by Germany (just like any other embassy around the world which is owned by the country it resides in but the rights belong to the country given to). Although neither the current Iraqi government nor the City of Berlin don't know what to do with the site. The embassy has been left to its faith but in the meantime is waiting to be explored by like minded people.

The GDR Iraqi embassy was built in 1974 based on the fact that Iraq was the first non-socialist country to recognize East Germany back in 1969. Of course this meant a lot for the East Germans considering that they chose and preferred the east over the west. Although things didn't look good after the collapse of the wall in 1990. At that time there were rumours that weapons and explosives were being smuggled into Berlin and stored in the embassy. This was the during the Gulf War. There were also reports confirming the weapons and explosives being hidden in the embassy. After the reunification of Germany and new established government, the GDR Iraqi embassy staff were "kindly" asked to leave in January 1991.
Currently Iraq still has the rights of the embassy but the property is owned by Germany (just like any other embassy around the world which is owned by the country it resides in but the rights belong to the country given to). Although neither the current Iraqi government nor the City of Berlin don't know what to do with the site. The embassy has been left to its faith but in the meantime is waiting to be explored by like minded people.

The GDR Iraqi embassy was built in 1974 based on the fact that Iraq was the first non-socialist country to recognize East Germany back in 1969. Of course this meant a lot for the East Germans considering that they chose and preferred the east over the west. Although things didn't look good after the collapse of the wall in 1990. At that time there were rumours that weapons and explosives were being smuggled into Berlin and stored in the embassy. This was the during the Gulf War. There were also reports confirming the weapons and explosives being hidden in the embassy. After the reunification of Germany and new established government, the GDR Iraqi embassy staff were "kindly" asked to leave in January 1991.
Currently Iraq still has the rights of the embassy but the property is owned by Germany (just like any other embassy around the world which is owned by the country it resides in but the rights belong to the country given to). Although neither the current Iraqi government nor the City of Berlin don't know what to do with the site. The embassy has been left to its faith but in the meantime is waiting to be explored by like minded people.

The GDR Iraqi embassy was built in 1974 based on the fact that Iraq was the first non-socialist country to recognize East Germany back in 1969. Of course this meant a lot for the East Germans considering that they chose and preferred the east over the west. Although things didn't look good after the collapse of the wall in 1990. At that time there were rumours that weapons and explosives were being smuggled into Berlin and stored in the embassy. This was the during the Gulf War. There were also reports confirming the weapons and explosives being hidden in the embassy. After the reunification of Germany and new established government, the GDR Iraqi embassy staff were "kindly" asked to leave in January 1991.
Currently Iraq still has the rights of the embassy but the property is owned by Germany (just like any other embassy around the world which is owned by the country it resides in but the rights belong to the country given to). Although neither the current Iraqi government nor the City of Berlin don't know what to do with the site. The embassy has been left to its faith but in the meantime is waiting to be explored by like minded people.

The GDR Iraqi embassy was built in 1974 based on the fact that Iraq was the first non-socialist country to recognize East Germany back in 1969. Of course this meant a lot for the East Germans considering that they chose and preferred the east over the west. Although things didn't look good after the collapse of the wall in 1990. At that time there were rumours that weapons and explosives were being smuggled into Berlin and stored in the embassy. This was the during the Gulf War. There were also reports confirming the weapons and explosives being hidden in the embassy. After the reunification of Germany and new established government, the GDR Iraqi embassy staff were "kindly" asked to leave in January 1991.
Currently Iraq still has the rights of the embassy but the property is owned by Germany (just like any other embassy around the world which is owned by the country it resides in but the rights belong to the country given to). Although neither the current Iraqi government nor the City of Berlin don't know what to do with the site. The embassy has been left to its faith but in the meantime is waiting to be explored by like minded people.

The GDR Iraqi embassy was built in 1974 based on the fact that Iraq was the first non-socialist country to recognize East Germany back in 1969. Of course this meant a lot for the East Germans considering that they chose and preferred the east over the west. Although things didn't look good after the collapse of the wall in 1990. At that time there were rumours that weapons and explosives were being smuggled into Berlin and stored in the embassy. This was the during the Gulf War. There were also reports confirming the weapons and explosives being hidden in the embassy. After the reunification of Germany and new established government, the GDR Iraqi embassy staff were "kindly" asked to leave in January 1991.
Currently Iraq still has the rights of the embassy but the property is owned by Germany (just like any other embassy around the world which is owned by the country it resides in but the rights belong to the country given to). Although neither the current Iraqi government nor the City of Berlin don't know what to do with the site. The embassy has been left to its faith but in the meantime is waiting to be explored by like minded people.

The GDR Iraqi embassy was built in 1974 based on the fact that Iraq was the first non-socialist country to recognize East Germany back in 1969. Of course this meant a lot for the East Germans considering that they chose and preferred the east over the west. Although things didn't look good after the collapse of the wall in 1990. At that time there were rumours that weapons and explosives were being smuggled into Berlin and stored in the embassy. This was the during the Gulf War. There were also reports confirming the weapons and explosives being hidden in the embassy. After the reunification of Germany and new established government, the GDR Iraqi embassy staff were "kindly" asked to leave in January 1991.
Currently Iraq still has the rights of the embassy but the property is owned by Germany (just like any other embassy around the world which is owned by the country it resides in but the rights belong to the country given to). Although neither the current Iraqi government nor the City of Berlin don't know what to do with the site. The embassy has been left to its faith but in the meantime is waiting to be explored by like minded people.

The GDR Iraqi embassy was built in 1974 based on the fact that Iraq was the first non-socialist country to recognize East Germany back in 1969. Of course this meant a lot for the East Germans considering that they chose and preferred the east over the west. Although things didn't look good after the collapse of the wall in 1990. At that time there were rumours that weapons and explosives were being smuggled into Berlin and stored in the embassy. This was the during the Gulf War. There were also reports confirming the weapons and explosives being hidden in the embassy. After the reunification of Germany and new established government, the GDR Iraqi embassy staff were "kindly" asked to leave in January 1991.
Currently Iraq still has the rights of the embassy but the property is owned by Germany (just like any other embassy around the world which is owned by the country it resides in but the rights belong to the country given to). Although neither the current Iraqi government nor the City of Berlin don't know what to do with the site. The embassy has been left to its faith but in the meantime is waiting to be explored by like minded people.

The GDR Iraqi embassy was built in 1974 based on the fact that Iraq was the first non-socialist country to recognize East Germany back in 1969. Of course this meant a lot for the East Germans considering that they chose and preferred the east over the west. Although things didn't look good after the collapse of the wall in 1990. At that time there were rumours that weapons and explosives were being smuggled into Berlin and stored in the embassy. This was the during the Gulf War. There were also reports confirming the weapons and explosives being hidden in the embassy. After the reunification of Germany and new established government, the GDR Iraqi embassy staff were "kindly" asked to leave in January 1991.
Currently Iraq still has the rights of the embassy but the property is owned by Germany (just like any other embassy around the world which is owned by the country it resides in but the rights belong to the country given to). Although neither the current Iraqi government nor the City of Berlin don't know what to do with the site. The embassy has been left to its faith but in the meantime is waiting to be explored by like minded people.

The GDR Iraqi embassy was built in 1974 based on the fact that Iraq was the first non-socialist country to recognize East Germany back in 1969. Of course this meant a lot for the East Germans considering that they chose and preferred the east over the west. Although things didn't look good after the collapse of the wall in 1990. At that time there were rumours that weapons and explosives were being smuggled into Berlin and stored in the embassy. This was the during the Gulf War. There were also reports confirming the weapons and explosives being hidden in the embassy. After the reunification of Germany and new established government, the GDR Iraqi embassy staff were "kindly" asked to leave in January 1991.
Currently Iraq still has the rights of the embassy but the property is owned by Germany (just like any other embassy around the world which is owned by the country it resides in but the rights belong to the country given to). Although neither the current Iraqi government nor the City of Berlin don't know what to do with the site. The embassy has been left to its faith but in the meantime is waiting to be explored by like minded people.

The GDR Iraqi embassy was built in 1974 based on the fact that Iraq was the first non-socialist country to recognize East Germany back in 1969. Of course this meant a lot for the East Germans considering that they chose and preferred the east over the west. Although things didn't look good after the collapse of the wall in 1990. At that time there were rumours that weapons and explosives were being smuggled into Berlin and stored in the embassy. This was the during the Gulf War. There were also reports confirming the weapons and explosives being hidden in the embassy. After the reunification of Germany and new established government, the GDR Iraqi embassy staff were "kindly" asked to leave in January 1991.
Currently Iraq still has the rights of the embassy but the property is owned by Germany (just like any other embassy around the world which is owned by the country it resides in but the rights belong to the country given to). Although neither the current Iraqi government nor the City of Berlin don't know what to do with the site. The embassy has been left to its faith but in the meantime is waiting to be explored by like minded people.

Folk Rock Band The Mighty Oaks from Berlin at the Summertale´s Festival near Lüneburg in Germany.

A vigil was held in Berlin to commemorate the hundreds of migrants who died in the shipwreck off the Libyan coast on April 19. People taking part laid candles and flowers on the street. The ceremony turned into a peaceful protest in front of the European Commission Berlin office in an attempt to raise awareness about the need to step up search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean.

A man offers a lighted candle during the vigil on Unter den Linden street in Berlin.

A young man lighting a candle at the vigil in Berlin to commemorate the hundreds who died in the shipwreck in the Mediterranean.

A man and a woman during the one minute silence to commemorate the hundreds who died in the shipwreck in the Mediterranean.

A young woman placing a candle on a bike during the vigil to commemorate the hundreds who died in the shipwreck in the Mediterranean.

People lighting candles on Unter den Linden street in Berlin to commemorate the hundreds who died in the shipwreck in the Mediterranean.

A man holding a candle during the vigil to commemorate the hundreds who died in the shipwreck in the Mediterranean.

Candles and flowers laid in front of the European Commission office in Berlin.

A woman holds a candle and a flyer in Berlin Unter den Linden asking “Fortress Europe” to open up its borders.

"Then and Now: Postcards from the Soviet Union" addresses the end of the Cold War and current resurgence of Russian geopolitical assertion in Ukraine and elsewhere. This series of historical photographs juxtaposes idealized, Soviet era postcards and visuals with real world photographs shot over the course of the collapse of the Soviet Union and the ensuing post-Soviet era. This juxtaposition is meant to demonstrate the links and the contrasts between national narratives propagated by the Soviet system and how those narratives have been affected by or manifested in contemporary reality.

Shot over the last 26 years in Russia, Georgia, Ukraine, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Poland, these unique photos offer an intimate historical perspective of Soviet and Eastern European geopolitics as the region takes on new forms and conflicts in Ukraine and elsewhere. 

Upper: Hello from the Exhibition”; mid-1950s postcard, Exhibition of National Economic Achievements, Soviet era Moscow.

Lower: Opened to private enterprise in 1992, the Exhibition of National Economic Achievements building complex rapidly transformed into a place of rampant uncontrolled commercialism amidst its former Soviet pomp. Moscow, Russia.

Image Correlation: These series of buildings have been utilized both during the communist era and during the more recent introduction of a Western commercial market after the end of the Soviet period. The symbology inherent in the sculptures have become representative hallmarks for the iconic Soviet period of Socialist realism, introduced by Stalin in 1934 then adapted by allied Communist parties worldwide.

Upper: Central Moscow, Kremlin foreground; 1960s impression

Lower: Moscow Red Square at night, 2005.

Image Correlation: More of a romantic notion regarding one of the major cities of the world, the iconic buildings of Red Square in Moscow implies a sense of duration through the centuries as political eras fluctuate more readily across recent decades.

Upper: Postcard: In memory of WWII.

Lower: Statue: In memory of WWII. Warsaw, Poland, 1992.

Image Correlation: These two photos resemble a counterpoint of recent history. A scarce Soviet postcard, released 10 years after WWII depicts a melancholic image of a distant, but ongoing battle, while a permanent abstract soldier statue in the Praga district of Warsaw, Poland offers a stern and dark reminder of history.

Upper: 1949 Soviet rally; 1962 postcard, “With Holiday Congratulations Comrade!”

Lower: World War Two veterans commemorate Victory Day inTbilisi, Georgia, 9 May 2011.

Image Correlation: Passing the memory of victory in the Great Patriotic War across generations. Pride and valor have compelled millions to revere their national identities through the memorialization of the Great Patriotic war. Despite the fact that the war was fought in the name of the Soviet Union, the people's of the now independent former Soviet republics still celebrate the war's victory as their own.

Upper: Soviet Great Patriotic War Congratulations to Victory; "From Moscow to Berlin,1945 To Victory Day!"

Lower: Tribute to executed escapees from former East Germany during Berlin Wall 15 year Anniversary; Berlin, Germany, 2004

Image Correlation: One side's victory is another's oppression.

Upper: Stalin era building, May 1 International Worker's Day holiday congratulations; Moscow, 1953

Lower: Western advertising is introduced to Russia. A Cadbury's fruit and nut chocolate billboard in front of the same 1940s, Stalin era building; Moscow, 1995.

Image Correlation: The irony of history. The pictured building, which was constructed during the height of Joseph Stalin's rule, was used to project an image of a powerful communist utopia. Decades later, communism collapsed, only to make way for the very kind of capitalism it was said to be resisting.

Today, Russia is a major force in the globalization process. This has forced difficult choices amongst European Union countries, particularly Germany, in respect to the series of sanctions levied since the stand off between the two countries over the war in Ukraine.

Upper: Forward to Communism” with the communist party program in hand, Moscow, Casualty of capitalism.

Lower: A Soviet era pensioner struggles during the economic shock period of the 1990s with the abrupt introduction of Western consumerism overtaking communist central planning of the prior 70 years. The McDonalds sign reads " Taste of the Season"; Moscow, 1995.

Image Correlation: Two distinct economic systems prevailing in the same exact location, though years apart. This dichotomy amplified a social collision for certain segments of the population, particularly in the years immediately after the collapse of the Soviet system. As there was no guidebook provided for people accustomed to government subsidies, having to suddenly rely on individual economic incentive for many became overwhelming.

Upper: May 1 Congratulations for International Workers Day; (Socialist Worker's Holiday) 1958

Lower: Soviet era and recently introduced Western values collide with Stalin in a tailor shop alongside a gambling and striptease casino, Gori, Georgia, 2009.

Image Correlation: Social values fluctuated greatly with end of the Soviet era. The idea of a communist utopia, free of inequality, greed and exploitation, was turned on its head with the rapid infusion of Western consumer culture and economic chaos that followed the collapse Soviet Union.

Upper: Soviet MiG-15, “The Jet that Shocked the West” 1950

Lower: Saakashvili Era Military Parade in Tbilisi, Georgia. During his 7 year rule (2004-2011), the pro-Western president showcased Georgia as the fastest growing post-Soviet democracy. Tbilisi, Georgia, 2007.

Image Correlation: The use of military might by both Eastern and Western oriented leaderships to project their ideological and political formidability. Despite existing in different eras, and under different ideological and political circumstances, the essential public relations strategy remains the same between the Soviet Union and capitalist independent Georgia.

Upper: Boys fantasizing about their future war stories, 1961.

Lower: A young boy’s military dreams; Tbilisi, Georgia, 2007.

For the young male, the fantasy for the glory days of war without yet having had the experience appears in several cultures worldwide. Here it is represented with Soviet era illustrations and through the eyes of a child at a Georgian military parade.

Upper: Glory to the Soviet Armed Forces; Moscow, 1968

Lower: All leaders become future history; the Putin era is not over; Tbilisi, Georgia, 2013.

Image Correlation: How Russian history from the early 21st century will be perceived in the distant future. Putin's administration is said to be heavily influenced by the Soviet past. The question then remains, what influence will Putin have on future Russian leaderships?

Late Soviet period, Gorbachev political pin reads-"Perestroika, Glasnost"; or "restructuring and "public openness", 1988.

Russian military elite attending banquet in the Georgian breakaway republic of Abkhazia. Gagra, Abkhazia, 2005.

Image Correlation: Symbols from the late Soviet period above, coincide with a seeming perpetuation of the Soviet era in the breakaway region of Abkhazia, on the northwest coast of Georgia years later. Abkhazia was the second territory annexed by Russia after the 2008 war and has cultivated close ties against the rancor of the Georgian authorities.

Upper: 50 years of the USSR Armed Forces, 1967

Lower: Former Russian base until 2001; Vasiani, Georgia, 2003.

Image Correlation: An extended generation of prevailing missile diplomacy between East and West is illustrated through a Soviet period magazine and 1960s postcard. While below, remnants from the Cold War remained until the withdrawal of Russian bases from Georgia started in 2005.

Upper: End of WWII 1945, Victory Day (Soviet Perspective).

Lower: Protesters gather in front of Stalin's birthplace. Georgian signage reads "Down with capitalism, give factories to working people, give jobs"; Gori, Georgia, 2011.

Image Correlation: A postcard and black & white photo celebrating Stalin provides a perspective regarding the Soviet WWII victory, while the image below shows present day demonstration by protesters in front of his boyhood home; now a museum.

Upper: Glory to Soviet Soldiers, Moscow, 1966

Lower: A Russian bunker with a Georgian weapon in the foreground. At the border of Russian-occupied South Ossetia. Dvani, Georgia, 2011.

Image Correlation: A Mid-1960s Soviet military parade in Red Square offers an idealized image projecting a feeling of camaraderie and unity while, decades later, two former Soviet peoples turn their guns on each other as Russian and Georgian forces face off over the breakaway region of South Ossetia.