July 29, 2024

Paddleboarding Down to Russia


Paddleboarding Down to Russia
Zilupe (Sinyaya) River, Latvia. J.Sedols, Wikimedia Commons.

Latvian pro-Kremlin activist Stanislav Bukains and his five-year-old daughter illegally crossed the border with Russia on a paddleboard, traveling down the Zilupe River (Sinyaya in Russian). Shortly before this escapade, Bukains had been released on bail after being accused of leading a criminal enterprise that collected information on Latvian politicians who opposed Russia.

Bukains was suspected of leading the "Baltic Anti-Fascists," a Telegram channel that shared sensitive data on anti-Kremlin Latvian politicians to Russian intelligence. Latvian authorities found that three Latvian citizens located in Russia were behind the site. In response, they opened a criminal investigation for treason.

Bukains was arrested in March 2023 in connection with the "Baltic Anti-Fascists" case. However, he was released after paying a bail of €40,000 ($43,486). On July 21, Bukains did not return his daughter, Monika Bukaine, to her residence in Latvia.  Shortly after, both were found on a paddleboard in Pskov, Russia.

Bukains asked Russian authorities for political asylum, claiming he was being accused of being a spy because he had previously traveled to Russia. The pro-Kremlin activist claimed he was on "special lists" of citizens accused of recruiting fighters for Russia's war on Ukraine. Meanwhile, Latvian police opened a criminal case against Bukains for the abduction of a minor.

Bukains is the seventh pro-Kremlin Latvian to flee to Russia or Belarus after being released from prison. In July, the governor of the Pskov Oblast, Mikhail Vedernikov, announced that "centers of temporary residence" would be opened for residents of Latvia expelled for failing the Latvian language state exam. Vedernikov said: "Come back home; we are waiting for you."

You Might Also Like

Small-Town Russia and the War
  • July 02, 2024

Small-Town Russia and the War

Sociologists spent a month living in small-town Russia to understand how Russians feel about the war in Ukraine.
Ten Years of Russian Crimea
  • June 16, 2024

Ten Years of Russian Crimea

Russian state media outlet Izvestia is celebrating ten years since the Crimean annexation with a special feature that's pure propaganda.
The Post that Angered a City
  • June 04, 2024

The Post that Angered a City

The wife of a Novosibirsk legislator mocked the city on Instagram, leading to questions about her lifestyle.
'Sup?
  • August 12, 2020

'Sup?

St. Petersburg saw over 2,000 attendees at its stand-up-paddleboard (SUP) festival this year, many in costume and with pets in tow.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices
May 01, 2013

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

Stargorod is a mid-sized provincial city that exists only in Russian metaphorical space. It has its roots in Gogol, and Ilf and Petrov, and is a place far from Moscow, but close to Russian hearts. It is a place of mystery and normality, of provincial innocence and Black Earth wisdom. Strange, inexplicable things happen in Stargorod. So do good things. And bad things. A lot like life everywhere, one might say. Only with a heavy dose of vodka, longing and mystery.

The Little Humpbacked Horse
November 03, 2014

The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.

Frogs Who Begged...
November 01, 2010

Frogs Who Begged...

The fables of Ivan Krylov are rich fonts of Russian cultural wisdom and experience – reading and understanding them is vital to grasping the Russian worldview. This new edition of 62 of Krylov’s tales presents them side-by-side in English and Russian. The wonderfully lyrical translations by Lydia Razran Stone are accompanied by original, whimsical color illustrations by Katya Korobkina.

Woe From Wit (bilingual)
June 20, 2017

Woe From Wit (bilingual)

One of the most famous works of Russian literature, the four-act comedy in verse Woe from Wit skewers staid, nineteenth century Russian society, and it positively teems with “winged phrases” that are essential colloquialisms for students of Russian and Russian culture.

Murder at the Dacha
July 01, 2013

Murder at the Dacha

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin has a problem. Several, actually. Not the least of them is the fact that a powerful Soviet boss has been murdered, and Matyushkin's surly commander has given him an unreasonably short time frame to close the case.

Russian Rules
November 16, 2011

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.

Steppe
July 15, 2022

Steppe

This is the work that made Chekhov, launching his career as a writer and playwright of national and international renown. Retranslated and updated, this new bilingual edition is a super way to improve your Russian.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955