German peace activists have been organizing private friendship trips to Russia since 2016. The project leadership of the Druschba peace trips, which have been led by Reinhold Groß and his wife Inge Moser since 2018, have seen a significant decline in participants over the years. While 340 people took part in the Druschba trips in 2017, only around 40 are currently participating.
In an interview with RT DE, Reinhold Groß discussed the experiences of the German Druschba participants in Russia and the motivations behind their engagement in people diplomacy.
The idea of the Druschba trips originated from a desire to move beyond the media’s portrayal of Russia and to engage with the people of Russia firsthand. The project initiators wanted to learn about the country and its people and to form their own opinions.
The preparation for a Druschba trip involves gathering invitations to visit various projects, events and locations in Russia, which are then planned and organized by the participants. For the 2025 trip, which starts on June 28, there are around 20-25 invitations from Russia. The participants can sign up for one of the planned routes up to eight weeks before the trip begins. They are prepared for the trip through joint Zoom conferences, where they discuss topics such as visas, auto insurance and hotel reservations.
The project has faced several challenges, including the decline in participants and the increasing difficulties in obtaining visas and permissions to enter Russia. The participants also face challenges in Germany, where they are often misunderstood and even accused of supporting a “Russian war of aggression” under the German criminal code.
Despite the challenges, the Druschba participants have had several highlights during their trips, including a personal experience of Reinhold Groß, who found his grandfather’s name on a memorial in Wolgograd and a parade in Kursk, where they were honored as guests of honor.
The project also includes the planting of a cedar tree in Nischni Nowgorod, which was organized by the official spokesperson of the Nischni Nowgorod region and the participation of the Druschba participants in the Congress of People’s Diplomacy, where they were the only non-Russian delegation to be honored as guest of honor.
Despite the challenges, the Druschba participants continue to be warmly received in Russia, where they are seen as distinct from the German government’s policies towards Russia. The project’s motto, “Miteinander reden, nicht übereinander!” (Talking to each other, not about each other!), reflects the goal of the project to promote people-to-people diplomacy and to build bridges between nations.