Norfolk’s sister-city group doesn’t want to sever ties with Russian city — but says it’s the City Council’s decision

The local nonprofit organization that fosters Norfolk’s sister city relationship with a city in Russia doesn’t want to sever the connection amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

But the Norfolk Sister City Association said the ultimate decision rests with the Norfolk City Council, the association wrote in a letter to city leaders, days after Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander called for the relationship between Norfolk and Kaliningrad to be immediately dissolved. Kaliningrad is a port city on the Baltic Sea.

In a phone interview Tuesday, Alexander’s position had softened. He said he’ll want the relationship severed if the Russian invasion continues and if both the city council and sister city association support the move. Alexander also said that the council might consider suspending the relationship before deciding whether to officially cut ties.

“It’s unfortunate that the goodwill that we’ve established with the people of Russia is being undermined by Russia’s leaders,” Alexander said. “It’s unfortunate that people of goodwill in a mutual understanding and good relations are being drawn into this war.”

In the letter to the city council, the organization’s president, Marguerite Inscoe, wrote that lasting peace “can be best achieved” through the development of personal relationships.

“To that end,” she wrote, “we desire to continue our quest to establish a meaningful relationship with the people of Kaliningrad.”

However, as a show of support for the people of Ukraine and condemnation of the Russian invasion of the country, she wrote that signage for the Russian sister city at Town Point Park would be covered up.

A hood will be placed over the Kaliningrad directional marker on the Norfolk Sister City signpost at the park, Inscoe wrote.

“The hood will remain until the Russian invaders have left the sovereign country of Ukraine,” she wrote.

Alexander said he appreciated the nonprofit’s action and said it was “the first step.”

The Norfolk City Council has not met since Russia launched its large-scale invasion on Ukraine Thursday. The council members will attend a retreat this weekend for budget discussions, and the mayor said he doesn’t expect they will discuss the relationship at that point. The next regular meeting is scheduled for March 8.

“Our thoughts are with the people of Ukraine,” Alexander said. “We want this senseless war to come to an end and to restore peace and security. We hope that this doesn’t continue to escalate into something that would take more innocent lives. It’s not the people of our sister city — it’s the leadership of Russia that’s the problem.”

Norfolk and Kaliningrad have been sister cities since 1992.

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Since beginning their relationship, the cities have been involved in multiple programs, including exchange programs for teachers, university professors, physicians and medical practitioners.

Norfolk has sister city relationships with 10 municipalities and said it is one of their least active relationships. The Kaliningrad Sister City Committee has not had a chairperson for more than a year.

Cities around the United States have been ending relationships with Russian cities in support of people in Ukraine.

Roanoke — the only other municipality in Virginia with a Russian sister city — has decided not to end its relationship with Pskov, Russia.

Roanoke Mayor Sherman Lea sent a letter to Gov. Youngkin saying he did not believe the cities needed to end their 30-year relationship, according to a report from WSET, a local ABC affiliate.

“Now is not the time for further division, but rather to ensure we demonstrate compassion for and support of people in Ukraine while continuing to use our existing relationships with the people of our sister cities to show them there is a better way,” Lea wrote.

Jessica Nolte, 757-912-1675, jnolte@dailypress.com