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Independent Media in Russia, Ukraine Lose Their Funding

  • The Washington Post
  • David L. Stern & Robyn Dixon

Independent media in Russia and Ukraine, critical for alternative reporting, have lost funding due to a USAID freeze. Many exiled Russian outlets, reliant on U.S. grants to reach Russian audiences with war and political coverage, now face a challenging future with the loss of critical financial support.

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Beyond the “Good Russian” – Rethinking Exile and Engagement

  • Kennan Institute
  • Sofia Gavrilova

Sofia Gavrilova explores the complex challenges Russian emigrants face since 2022, navigating tensions with host societies, fellow exiles, and their homeland. She argues that for a democratic Russia’s future, Russian exiles must move beyond victimhood, actively engage with local communities, and build bridges through concrete actions and inclusive dialogue.

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Kremlin Blocks YouTube, Russian Users Find Workarounds

  • The New York Times
  • Paul Sonne

Paul Sonne (NYT) reports on the Kremlin’s efforts to cripple YouTube in Russia, pushing users toward state-controlled platforms. While many Russians are finding ways around the restrictions through VPNs, journalist Ilya Shepelin, now in exile, warns that only politically active users will remain on YouTube.

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Russian Media in Exile Finds Purpose and Global Relevance

  • Kennan Institute
  • Izabella Tabarovsky

In this article, Izabella Tabarovsky explores how Putin’s war in Ukraine depends on silencing independent media. She examines the struggles of Russian journalists in exile, who, despite immense challenges, are now producing groundbreaking reports and creatively circumventing censorship.

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Russia Labels Komi Daily a “Terrorist Organization”

  • The Kyiv Independent
  • Tim Zadorozzhnny

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has designated the independent media outlet Komi Daily as a “terrorist organization”. This marks the first time the FSB has applied such a label to a media outlet. The Supreme Court finalized the designation in late December, intensifying Russia’s suppression of dissenting voices, particularly the independent media critical of the Kremlin.

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People in Russia “Need the Truth”

  • Voice of America
  • Liam Scott

Exiled Russian journalist Alesya Marokhovskaya works as an editor for IStories. Despite legal threats and surveillance, her investigative outlet strives to connect with Russians seeking truth amid a landscape dominated by misinformation.

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How Sanctions Against Russia Impact Journalism

  • Columbia Journalism Review
  • Lauren Watson

Sanctions targeting Russian propaganda have inadvertently crippled independent journalism. Exiled reporters, battling Kremlin censorship, face funding blockades from Western tech and financial giants, threatening their vital work of delivering uncensored news to Russians.

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Russia: Exiled Journalist Founds Media Startup

  • Voice of America
  • Liam Scott

Running a news outlet in exile presents unique challenges. For Lola Tagaeva, founder of Verstka, this means reporting under difficult conditions, maintaining journalistic standards, and reaching millions of readers while navigating the complexities of independent journalism abroad.

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“Soviet-Minded Men Rule Everything in Russia”

  • The Moscow Times

In November The Moscow Times hosted “Women Against the Kremlin”, spotlighting women’s resistance to war and repression. Journalist Ekaterina Kotrikadze, a pioneer of Russia’s #MeToo movement and advocate for gender equality, reflects on women’s rights, propaganda, and journalism in exile.

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Holding Putin to Account from Exile

  • Global Investigative Journalism Network
  • Olivier Holmey

In this interview, investigative journalist Roman Anin, founder of IStories, discusses his work in exile, the risks faced by his team, and the challenges of reporting on corruption and the war in Ukraine. Despite threats, he remains committed to documenting crimes and holding powerful figures accountable.

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The Russian Independent Media Archive

  • Nieman Reports
  • Ann Cooper

As Vladimir Putin’s regime tightens its grip on free speech, the Russian Independent Media Archive (RIMA) is stepping up to preserve endangered journalism. With backing from PEN America and Bard College, RIMA safeguards independent media, ensuring critical journalism outlasts authoritarian attempts to erase it.

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Russia: What It Takes To Tell The Truth

  • BIMEX

In March 2022, the State Duma introduced new laws penalizing the “discrediting” of the Russian Armed Forces, leading to hefty fines or imprisonment for violations. This crackdown has made independent journalism increasingly perilous in Russia, spurring a mass exodus of independent media professionals. This publication aims to illuminate the realities faced by Russian independent media workers in exile.

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Resisting Repression: Kirill Martynov on the Role of Exiled Journalism

  • The Barents Observer
  • Георгий Чентемиров

In this video-interview, Kirill Martynov, editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta Europe, discusses the harsh realities exiled Russian media outlets are facing amid escalating repression and censorship. He emphasizes the need for independent journalism and education as tools for resistance against authoritarianism.

WATCH [RU]

Russia: Apple Quietly Deletes Nearly a Hundred VPNs

  • El País
  • Javier G. Cuesta

Apple has removed dozens of apps, even though the Kremlin’s censorship body did not order the move. These services, half-permitted by the government, enable people in Russia to access social networks and independent media.

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Russia’s War on the Press

  • Women Press Freedom

Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, the Russian regime has targeted journalists on the frontlines with deliberate attacks, leading to numerous deaths and injuries among women reporters. This campaign of terror aims to suppress independent reporting and obscure the realities of the conflict.

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Is Civil Society Still Alive in Russia?

  • Stockholm Centre for Eastern European Studies
  • Stefan Ingvarsson, Ekaterina Kalinina

This report challenges the claims that there is no civil society to speak of inside the Russian Federation and that most of its activists are now in exile. A significant number of independent and democratically oriented initiatives and organizations continue to operate throughout the country to address societal issues through civic engagement. These should be acknowledged.

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Russia: Journalists Set the Foundation for a Democratic Future

  • IJNet
  • Devin Windelspecht

As Russia’s authoritarian regime tightens its grip, independent journalists in exile are building a foundation for a democratic future. By engaging youth, amplifying Indigenous voices, and preserving history, these journalists defy state repression, offering hope for Russia’s long-term political transformation despite the immense risks.

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