Journalists at Radio Free Europe in Latvia confront an ambiguous professional future
In the heart of Riga, the capital of Latvia, Radio Free Europe (RFE) continues its mission to provide independent journalism to regions with limited press freedom. The relocation of RFE journalists to Riga has bolstered their capability to counter Russian propaganda, offering a lifeline to audiences under authoritarian influence.
RFE, a service that includes a 24/7 Russian television channel, reaches approximately 10 million people in Russia, according to Editor-in-chief Nicola Careem. Globally, RFE reaches approximately 50 million people every week across 27 languages and 23 countries.
The move to Riga offers a safer environment outside Russia's direct control, enabling RFE journalists to maintain editorial independence essential for credible reporting on Russian and Belarusian issues. This, in turn, helps circumvent censorship.
Riga's unique geographic and sociopolitical context plays a significant role. With a substantial Russian-speaking population, the city provides an opportunity for Russian-language journalism broadcasters to serve audiences often influenced by Russian media culture but who now have access to alternative, independent perspectives from Latvia-based journalists.
However, the relocation also involves tensions. Independent Russian-language channels in Riga, like TV Rain, have faced regulatory scrutiny and public criticism within Latvia, reflecting the complex balance between supporting free journalism and navigating local political sensitivities.
Despite these challenges, Riga has become a critical media hub for disseminating independent news to Russophone audiences. Anchor Artyom Radygin, one of 46 Russian nationals who work for RFE in Riga, co-anchors a weekday evening news show on Russia and fact-checks statements by the Kremlin. Radygin, like many of his colleagues, expresses concern over an effort by the Trump administration to shut down RFE in March 2023.
The European Union, the Netherlands, and Sweden have stepped in to help keep RFE afloat, demonstrating support for the organisation's resilience, as exemplified by Andrey Shary, Russian service director of RFE. Shary believes in the organisation's 70-year history of battling Kremlin propaganda, citing it as a testament to their enduring commitment to independent journalism.
The accuracy and availability of the transcript may vary, as the NPR transcript may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. The conversation between Radygin and an unidentified person is in a non-English language, with the audio transcript provided being from Colourbox's "Philip Glass". In Russia, communicating with or sharing RFE content can result in fines or imprisonment due to the government declaring RFE an undesirable organization.
This report is brought to you by Ben Bathke for NPR News, Riga.
- The European Union, the Netherlands, and Sweden have demonstrated their support for Radio Free Europe (RFE) by helping to keep it afloat, as it continues to counter Russian propaganda and offer independent news to regions with limited press freedom, such as Russia and Belarus.
- In the face of threats and regulations, RFE journalists, like Anchor Artyom Radygin, who co-anchors a weekday evening news show on Russia and fact-checks statements by the Kremlin, remain concerned about efforts to shut down RFE, such as the attempt by the Trump administration in March 2023.
