Russian opposition radio Echo of Moscow regains its voice
Blocked in Russia since the start of the invasion of Ukraine, the radio station Ekho Moskvy (“Echo of Moscow”) resumed broadcasting from Berlin to combat the “propaganda” of Vladimir Putin’s regime.
The emblematic station announced at the beginning of March, like other independent Russian media, its dissolution following the internal turn of the screw that accompanied the Russian offensive in Ukraine. Some of its members have since managed to reach other countries, such as Lithuania, Latvia, Georgia and even Germany.
This is particularly the case of the deputy editor, Maxim Kournikov, 38, who won Berlin and managed to produce an audio stream accessible on an application. “It works like a radio”he explains to Agence France-Presse about this new media, simply called Echo and whose broadcasts began on Monday.
The success was immediate, according to its designer, who claims to be one of the most downloaded applications in Russia. The Moscow authorities tried to block it after a few days but without success.
A website and two Telegram channels are also part of the new project, accessible in Russia through the application, and this without having to modify the VPN to circumvent the blocking of sites. “We want to offer our readers and listeners a complete picture of what is happening in Russia”explains Kournikov.
A total of twenty journalists are currently taking part in the project, which could soon be joined by a dozen other people, according to Mr. Kournikov. Half of the team is expected to work from the German capital in offices and even a studio, funded by donations.
But not all journalists left Russia. The editor-in-chief of Echo of Moscow, Alexei Venediktov, for example, remained in Russia, from where he manages a YouTube channel which is also part of the new project. “The fact that we still have voices in Russia is the most important for us”insists Mr. Kournikov.
However, he is forced to stay in Berlin for the time being. In Russia, the journalist has, in fact, denounced the offensive, which has become an offense punishable by imprisonment. He is also a reserve officer and would therefore very likely be mobilized to participate in a war against which he is fighting.