September 24, 2022

Served Uncivilly


Served Uncivilly
The OSCE Parliament building, Vienna. Wikimedia Commons, Kaihsu Tai

On September 19, authorities in the Russia-backed separatist Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) in eastern Ukraine sentenced an employee of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to thirteen years in prison.

The accused is a local from Luhansk who was a member of the OSCE's team in the area observing Russia's invasion of Ukraine. According to Radio Free Europe, he is one of as many as six OSCE employees who have been arrested under suspicion of being foreign agents. Information as to the exact status of the OSCE employee in this case and his colleagues is scarce, as the LPR has not confirmed or denied reports.

The OSCE is an international organization whose purpose is to promote human rights, nuclear arms nonproliferation, democracy, and other liberal values throughout the continent of Europe. It is hardly surprising that they would run afoul of a Kremlin-supported regime.

You Might Also Like

Referendum Redux
  • September 23, 2022

Referendum Redux

The governments of the Ukrainian separatist LPR and DPR are calling for referendums on joining Russia – a callback to 2014 Crimea.
Flipping the Script
  • September 13, 2022

Flipping the Script

A massive Ukrainian counterattack in Kharkiv Oblast now places the frontline at the Russian border.
No Rush to Surrender
  • September 18, 2022

No Rush to Surrender

The Russian military's morale weakens as Ukraine announces the liberation of two villages.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

Fearful Majesty
July 01, 2014

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.

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.

93 Untranslatable Russian Words
December 01, 2008

93 Untranslatable Russian Words

Every language has concepts, ideas, words and idioms that are nearly impossible to translate into another language. This book looks at nearly 100 such Russian words and offers paths to their understanding and translation by way of examples from literature and everyday life. Difficult to translate words and concepts are introduced with dictionary definitions, then elucidated with citations from literature, speech and prose, helping the student of Russian comprehend the word/concept in context.

How Russia Got That Way
September 20, 2025

How Russia Got That Way

A fast-paced crash course in Russian history, from Norsemen to Navalny, that explores the ways the Kremlin uses history to achieve its ends.

The Latchkey Murders
July 01, 2015

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...

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