Independent Russian News Site Meduza Seeks Funds During Ukraine Invasion

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Russia recently blocked access to the Meduza website as Putin signed a law threatening journalists with up to 15 years in prison for using words such as “war” and “invasion” to describe Moscow’s actions in Ukraine. The former Soviet power has also blocked Facebook and Twitter, making it harder for Russia to access non-state-sponsored information about the war.

But despite the Kremlin’s efforts to censor Meduza, the news site’s mobile app is still accessible in Russia.

“Russians need to have information about what the government is doing and right now, they can’t do that without independent newsrooms like Meduza,” said Leon Fryszer, publisher of the heavily funded German news agency Krautreporter, which helps Meduza. with its campaign.

For Fryszer, supporting a Latvian-based newsroom is the least he can do to ensure Russians, many of whom oppose Putin’s invasion and publicly protest the war at personal risk, get reliable information.

“I also care about making sure that there is a path for Russia and that there is a possibility that democracy will reappear,” he said. “This is quite important for us as Europeans.”

“I think there needs to be a counterforce to what the Kremlin is doing now, and Meduza has a good chance to be that,” added Fryszer.

HuffPost reporter Ryan Grenoble contributed reporting.

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