according to eli lake of "the washington times", hatcher became one of several american diplomats and journalists to be attacked and falsely accused between 2007 and 2011 after the obama administration's "reset" with russia. hatcher served as political officer who worked to promote human rights and freedom of religion in russia from 2008 to 2010. he was awarded in june 2010 by the state department for his "courage and character, commitment to excellence, and support of human rights and religious freedom in spite of exceedingly difficult circumstances and personal hardship." as part of his job, hatcher would meet with opposition figures, government officials, ngos, journalists, and religious leaders to promote human rights and religious equality. hatcher was fully exonerated by the media and state department, and he was lauded by his colleagues for heroism.