Alexander Osovtsov was born on July 19, 1957 in Leningrad. In 1979 he graduated from the Faculty of Philosophy of the Leningrad State University. A.A. Zhdanov. In 1985 he completed postgraduate studies at the Institute of Philosophy of the USSR Academy of Sciences.

In March 1986 he received the degree of candidate of philosophical sciences.

From 1986 to 1990, he worked as editor of the editorial board of philosophical literature at the Nauka publishing house, and then as scientific editor of the Chelovek magazine. 1990-1993 - People's Deputy of the Moscow Council, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Moscow Council on Social Policy.

1993-1996 - Member of the Russia's Choice faction of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of the first convocation, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Labor and Social Support.

From January 1996 to 2002, he was an Advisor to the Group-Most holding and CJSC Media-Most, Executive Vice President of the Russian Jewish Congress Charitable Foundation.

From 2001 to 2010, he was a member of the governing bodies of the Yabloko party, the Union of Right Forces, The Other Russia, Solidarity, the United Civil Front and other political forces.

In March 2010, he signed the appeal of the Russian opposition “Putin must go”, in which Vladimir Putin, at that time the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, qualified as an “architect, curator and guardian” of the “socio-political structure that is destroying Russia” Consistently opposes aggression Russia regarding Ukraine, in particular, against the annexation of Crimea and the war unleashed by Russia against Ukraine.