PRAGUE – On December 10, the International Broadcasting Advisory Board (IBAB) hosted a virtual discussion entitled Press Freedom in Peril: How Russia’s Crackdown on Independent Media is Expanding. In case you missed it, a recording of the virtual program above.

Russia has long been hostile to independent media, and in the past year, this trend has intensified as countries across Europe and Central Asia adopt foreign agent laws similar to those backed by Russia and escalate journalist detentions, all while Russia promotes false narratives and stifles the flow of information within its borders. Most recently, multiple apps including three of RFE/RL’s own were removed from Apple’s Russian Appstore.

The IBAB was joined by top experts to examine how Russia is expanding its malign influence in the information space, the toll on independent media operations and journalists, and what can be done to strengthen press freedom in the wake of such alarming developments.

“This panel is a continuation of a broader conversation that explores the enormous impact of the U.S. Agency for Global Media and its entities and the escalating authoritarian challenges they face,” said IBAB Chair Kenneth Jarin. “As Russia’s crackdown on independent media intensifies, it is clear that Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty are crucial sources of accurate, uncensored news and information both inside Russia and in countries being inundated by false authoritarian narratives.”

IBAB Chair Kenneth Jarin gave introductory remarks, and IBAB member Kathleen Matthews moderated the panel discussion which included IBAB Members Luis Botello, Jamie Fly, and the following experts:

• Pavel Butorin, Director of Current Time, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

• Stephen Capus, President & CEO, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

• Peter Pomerantsev, Senior Fellow, Johns Hopkins University

• Dr. Angela Stent, Professor Emerita, Georgetown University, Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution, and Senior Advisor to the U.S. Institute of Peace

• Kiryl Sukhotski, Managing Editor, Russian Service, Voice of America