The expertise sites dekoder and Platform RAAM are concerned about the future of independent journalism in and about Ukraine, Belarus and Russia. In a joint appeal to the European Union, dekoder and Platform RAAM urge the main governing bodies of the EU to effectively support these threatened media and request that resources be made available for this purpose. The text of our appeal is published below.
Independent Russian and Belarusian media, which are forced to work out of exile, and Ukrainian media, which make an essential contribution to the resistance against Russia's war of aggression and to upholding democratic freedoms, are currently fighting for their survival and many are on the brink of extinction.
These media are dependent on support. In exile, under the rule of autocracy or during a war, there are hardly any opportunities to run the media on a commercial basis. In the meantime, these media are more important as independent sources of information than ever.
The new American government is undermining the role of these media. President Trump’s decision to cut the US Agency for Global Media and USAID not only threatens the existence of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and their publications and broadcasts, but also weakens dozens of other, influential independent media that were supported by American organizations, among others.
Without free press no freedom for Ukraine, Belarus and Russia
The media projects and courageous journalists are driving forces in the fight against authoritarian dynamics and for democratic freedoms – not only in their countries and regions, but for everyone in Europe. Without the reporting, analyses and investigations of independent journalist networks in Ukraine, Belarus or Russia we would hardly be able to understand what is going on in these countries. We would hardly have effective tools and knowledge to resist and act against Russian state propaganda and disinformation strategies.
The devastation of independent media is of course also a serious threat to reporting by journalists in these countries in general. In Russia and Belarus, independent reporting is currently practically banned and the exiled media are now often the only way to access accurate information.
The consequences of the avalanche of the American policies are therefore fundamental and dramatic.
The only media that will benefit from the impending extinction of many independent outlets are the Belarusian and Russian state channels, that will be able to spread their propaganda in an increasingly disturbing way, both in their own country and far beyond. The information position of citizens in East and West will suffer lasting damage as a result.
This destruction cannot be accepted as a fait accompli.
Reliable information and pluralism in Europe's strategic interest
At the initiative of the Czech Republic and seven other European countries, Brussels was asked to consider whether the EU could take over the financing of RFE/RL. The Swedish government has already announced that it will support RFE/RL with 20 million crowns in 2025. This is a step in the right direction, but it should not be taken at the expense of other journalist outlets, which are also of immense importance for factual and analytical reporting on and from Ukraine, Belarus, Russia and other countries in Eastern Europe.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty building in Prague-Strašnice. Photo: Skot (license: CC BY-SA 4.0)
That is why we – journalists and editors of international media who are focusing specifically on Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, the Caucasus, Moldova and Central Asia – want to appeal to the European Commission, the European Council and individual European states to create funds to strengthen specialised journalism in and about these countries.
Support for this form of journalism could be included in the ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030. After all, in this age of hybrid warfare, defence policy involves more than just weapons and personnel. For the democratic order that the EU wants to defend, reliable information and pluralism are of strategic interest to Europe. Protecting and preserving free information spaces for Ukraine, Belarus and Russia is an important contribution to strengthening democracy and enabling future peace in Europe.
To the extent that it is within our power, the initiators of this call want to contribute to a public discussion on this matter and foster a support network for independent media that are struggling to survive in the upcoming years. If desired, we are also ready to play an advisory and coordinating role.
But without external help we are powerless. Hence our appeal to the European Commission, the European Council and the individual European states to provide effective support to independent media that can fill the gaps now created by the decisions of the Trump administration.
Platform RAAM dekoder
Who we are
Platform RAAM is a Dutch non-profit media project founded in 2016. RAAM is a platform for experts and journalists that organises a website, lectures and other public events to provide knowledge and analysis on Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, the Caucasus and Central Asia. Platform RAAM is co-founder and junior partner of the Russia and Eastern Europe Knowledge Alliance (Reka), a think tank under the auspices of The Clingendael Institute.
dekoder is a German media project being founded 2015. dekoder provides media, expertise, and knowledge primarily on Russia and Belarus. The non-profit project brings together Russian and Belarusian journalism with academic expertise from European universities on a single platform dekoder has received multiple awards, including two Grimme Online Awards.
In May 2024, the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office declared dekoder as the first German media organization to be an "undesirable organization."
