Whitelist 2: Quality Russian-language media

We have included Russian-language press that is not owned, directly or indirectly by the Kremlin on the whitelist.  As a rule, such channels are located outside Russia but write a lot about what is happening in Russia. We focus on channels covering important socio-political and social issues. At least for the time being, the list does not include local media or blogs and social networking groups.

You can read the first part of the whitelist here – a list of Russian, Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian and Finnish media outlets that are not under the influence of the Kremlin and can therefore be trusted. We have covered this time around, the media in the rest of Europe.

The list is aimed in particular at people outside the Kremlin’s media sphere who feel a lack of an honest and balanced press. We invite you to distribute the whitelist among all your Russian-speaking acquaintances. The easiest way to do this is to share this link.

Please note that some whitelist channels are blocked in Russia. However they can be read via VPN as well as on social networks (Facebook, Youtube, Telegram), where many of the list’s publications release their material. The Russian authorities are trying to block these accounts as well, but most of the time they have been unsuccessful.

Germany
Deutsche Welle (DW) Russian-language multimedia portal is part of Germany’s public service broadcasting. DW publishes news, analytics, commentaries and reports from Germany and Europe. „We cover events in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Central Asia and the South Caucasus from the point of views of Germany and Europe. In addition, we provide interesting and useful information for tourists and those looking for a job in Europe, „ stated Ingo Mannteuffel, DW European and Russian editorial director.

OstWest is a Russian-language 24-hour cable and internet TV channel based in Berlin. In addition to the world, German and Russian news it also broadcasts educational and talk shows, Russian films and TV series. The programs are broadcast on the Russian independent TV station Dožd.

Launched in 1996, the channel was called RTV, which is not to be confused with the Russian propaganda media RT/Russia Today. Ostwest is a private channel run by German entrepreneur Peter Tietzki and earns its income from advertising money and subscription fees.

Eurotopics releases daily European press overviews in Russian. The portal is run by the German-owned political education agency BPB, has a network of correspondents across Europe and follows more than 500 newspapers, magazines and blogs from 32 European countries. In addition to the news, it releases analytical and background information to help its audience to better understand the context of the events.

An example of the quality of the portal can be seen on an overview of the local elections in Russia.

Poland
The Warsaw based Charter97 portal provides news and analysis in Russian and Belarussian languages, focusing mainly on Belarusian as well as Russian topics. Belarusian journalists critical of the Lukashenko regime, who have moved to the neighbouring country of Poland because of persecution from the Belarusian authorities, own the portal. The channel receives its funding through Polish, Lithuanian and European national and social foundations. An example of the content of Charter97 is the analysis of Russian- Belarusian relations.

The TV channel BelsatTV also broadcasts a Russian-language program. The channel is owned by Polish television and is funded by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The channel is visible on satellite networks, the Internet, Youtube and on mobile. An example of the content of the channel would be the program „Vot nii“, which focuses on news on the „former USSR“

The Russian-language station on Polish Radio broadcasts news and discussion programs, as well as press overviews and cultural programs. Listen live and via podcast, news can be read on the portal and on Social Media. The station is owned by the public service broadcasting service of Poland. Listen for example to the „Human Rights in Russia“ section or Russian language overviews of Polish events.

Czech Republic
Radio Praga is a Russian language radio station and portal for Czech public broadcasting. It provides news and information on domestic policy and EU issues. Special attention is paid to the topic of Russia’s hybrid war.

Настоящее время/Current time is a Russian language TV channel based in Prague and broadcast via cable, satellite and the web. Channel journalists work in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia and several other countries that were formerly part of the USSR.

The TV channel was created by Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty America Voice and is funded by the USA but donors are not allowed to interfere in editorial work. To understand the content of the channel the special project “Prigožini impeerium” is a super example.

The list of Russian language channels also includes Radio Free Europa/Radio Liberty , a non-profit media corporation that distributes information in 22 languages in 22 countries in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central and South Asia. This project is funded by the USA, similarly to the afore mentioned TV station. To understand the content of the channel see a program dedicated to the counter sanctions of a show dedicated to the Russian national anniversary.

France
French radio in Russian combines a radio station, podcasts, a portal and Social Media. The channel is part of French public broadcasting. The station offers a wealth of news and political analysis, as well as cultural programs and French language courses.

Grani.ru has been running an Internet publication since 2000, focusing on opposition and political prisoners, as well as analyzing Russian and global politics. The channel is owned by the founding journalists and is partly funded by the USA NED Foundation.

The publication is blocked in Russia but its content can be tracked through Social Media accounts.

Great Britain
The BBC’s Russian language editorial has been operating since 1946 as part of UK public service broadcasting. News, analytics, reporting, videos and live links are published. Special mention should be made of the section, which provides educational information behind the scenes in the press.