April 28, 2022

Golden Mask of Support


Golden Mask of Support
The Golden Mask award. Bolshoi Theater, Russian Ministry of Culture

Ksenia Sorokina gave her prestigious Golden Mask theatre award to Sasha Skochilenko, an anti-war activist who is facing a possible prison sentence.

Skochilenko, an artist and anti-war activist, was recently arrested for "spreading misinformation" by switching price tags to anti-war stickers in a St. Petersburg supermarket. She is currently being held in a pretrial detention center, awaiting trial. If convicted, she could get up to ten years in prison. 

Many artists have said this punishment is far too severe and that is shows how absurd censorship is in Russia today. As well, Skochilenko has a health condition, celiac disease, that has not been properly accommodated while awaiting trial. In support, Sorokina donated her recently-earned Golden Mask award, the highest honor for Russian theater, music, and dance performers, to Skochilenko. 

It is yet another example of how Russian artists have come together to support one another during these difficult times. 

You Might Also Like

Signed, a Foreign Agent
  • April 25, 2022

Signed, a Foreign Agent

Artist Daria Apakhonchich illustrated her quarterly report to the Ministry of Justice with her thoughts about the war in Ukraine. 
Spot the Difference
  • April 22, 2022

Spot the Difference

Zoya Cherkassky-Nnadi is creating pieces of art comparing the Ukraine she knew in childhood and the war-riddled Ukraine we see today.
Refugees Aboard the Volendam
  • April 16, 2022

Refugees Aboard the Volendam

A well-known cruise line has offered one of its ships to aid the humanitarian effort for Ukraine. 
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

Driving Down Russia's Spine
June 01, 2016

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 

Survival Russian
February 01, 2009

Survival Russian

Survival Russian is an intensely practical guide to conversational, colloquial and culture-rich Russian. It uses humor, current events and thematically-driven essays to deepen readers’ understanding of Russian language and culture. This enlarged Second Edition of Survival Russian includes over 90 essays and illuminates over 2000 invaluable Russian phrases and words.

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.

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.

Moscow and Muscovites
November 26, 2013

Moscow and Muscovites

Vladimir Gilyarovsky's classic portrait of the Russian capital is one of Russians’ most beloved books. Yet it has never before been translated into English. Until now! It is a spectactular verbal pastiche: conversation, from gutter gibberish to the drawing room; oratory, from illiterates to aristocrats; prose, from boilerplate to Tolstoy; poetry, from earthy humor to Pushkin. 

A Taste of Chekhov
December 24, 2022

A Taste of Chekhov

This compact volume is an introduction to the works of Chekhov the master storyteller, via nine stories spanning the last twenty years of his life.

About Us

Russian Life is the 31-year-old publication of an award-winning publishing house that also creates books, 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