Fast Facts Radio Svoboda is the leading international broadcaster in Russia and a leading locally based alternative to state-controlled media. In Russia’s rapidly evolving media landscape, Radio Svoboda is an innovative, multi-media provider of accurate, independent and wide-ranging information and news. Language: Russian Coverage: 24 hours daily Established: 1953 Distribution:  Radio (FM, AM, SW, CBL, Satellite), Internet Locations: Prague headquarters, Moscow Staff: 82 in Prague and Moscow, approximately 100 stringers across the Russian Federation. Affiliates:  Although Radio Svoboda had almost 30 local affiliates in 2005, virtually all of them have since stopped carrying its programs in response to political pressure.

Media Environment

• Freedom House Freedom of the Press Index, 2012: Not Free (172/197)
• Reporters without Borders Press Freedom Index, 2012: 142nd/179
• Russia continues to be one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists.  The Committee to Protect Journalists has documented 19 murders of journalists in Russia since 2000; of these, 18 remain unsolved. Violent attacks against journalists are frequent and brutal. 

Highlights

• Radio Svoboda is the second most–cited media source in Russia and is attracting a growing audience on the radio and the web, averaging more than 3 million visitors to www.svobodanews.ru every month.
• Radio Svoboda publishes a full range of exclusive reporting on political events, civic initiatives, economics, culture, public opinion, ecology, whistle-blowers, healthcare, social trends, local and regional politics and the latest ideas and debates; reflecting its commitment to cover under-reported stories and provide its audience with a full range of news.
• In December 2011, Radio Svoboda’s website traffic nearly tripled during weekend coverage of Duma Elections and subsequent protest actions. Svoboda offered hours of live coverage on video, of which it posted videos and demonstrations photos.
• Radio Svoboda conducted an exclusive interview with Hermitage CEO Bill Browder on his legal controversy with Russian authorities. Later, the Service was the first to publish the hand-written appeal to Hermitage lawyer Sergey Magnitsky’s prison shortly before his tragic death. The ensuing public and media uproar resulted in U.S. and British visa sanctions against about 60 Russian officials involved in his death.   
• Radio Svoboda is increasingly popular on Russian social networking sites like vKontakte and Moi Mir. The station actively engages its audience on Facebook (facebook.com/radiosvoboda), Twitter(@SvobodaRadio), and online comment forums.

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Population
142 million (2008 World Bank estimate)

Most Common Languages:
Russian, Over 100 minority languages of which 27 are considered official

Press Freedom Index (Freedom House):
Not Free, ranked 172 out of 197 (2012)

Press Freedom Index (RSF):
142 out of 179 (2012)

Corruption Index (Transparency Int.):
143 out of 183 (2011)

Global Peace Index (IES):
147 out of 153 (2011)

Human Rights Watch:
Report on Russia (2011)

Amnesty International:
Russia Report (2011)