Over The Hill

This summer marks 30 years we’ve been publishing Russian Life. The cover image above is the first issue we published, back in July 1995. It was thin, published in haste (we naively believed we could publish monthly), and frankly we had no idea what we were getting ourselves in for.

But it has been an amazing ride, through recessions, coups, countless trips to God knows where throughout Russia, and living and learning about this country’s fascinating culture, history, geography, and customs.

It has always been a long odds gamble – a print magazine in English for people (mostly Americans) interested in Russia. Yes, we found readers and followers, but it has never been lucrative. And once Russia started invading its neighbors and willfully plunged itself back into international pariah-dom, it has become barely a break-even venture (using a “very generous and irrational calculation of break-even,” as my bookkeeper put it).

But we no longer publish this magazine in hopes of making it a profitable business. That dream died shortly after 2008. We publish it because we feel that the stories we are sharing would not otherwise see the light of day, and that they should. Russia may not be North Korea, but with its crackdown on free expression, wanton militarism, mafia capitalism, and boundless edification of an anti-democratic leader, it certainly plays in the same ballpark. Which means good journalism about what is really going on inside Russia is hard to come by. We like to think we offer one of the few exceptions.

Meanwhile, our endless thanks to the tribe of customers and colleagues we have accumulated over 30 years who continue to make this magazine possible. That you find value and worth in what we do, year after year, is something for which I am endlessly grateful.

How long will Russian Life continue?

Unclear. We don’t have any oligarchs offering to selflessly support our work. But we also know how to run a lean and mean magazine. Thirty years has taught us a thing or three.

So, we’ll just keep going until we stop, telling stories as long as you'll let us into your homes.

– Paul Richardson