North Caucasus Service
RFE/RL’s North Caucasus Service is one of the only independent media outlets reporting in the predominantly Muslim region, one of the most repressive in Russia.
Website page views
(2024)
Facebook video views
(2024)
Instagram video views
(2024)
YouTube video views
(2024)
About the Service
Launched in 2002, RFE/RL’s North Caucasus Service operates Kavkaz.Realii, a Russian-language website that provides uncensored news, and Marsho Radio, the only international Chechen-language broadcaster.
Journalists cover Russia’s full-scale war on Ukraine and its impact on the region.
The Service provides valuable platforms for communities facing persecution in the region including women and girls, the LGBTQ+ community, refugees, and more.
Historical podcast Stalin’s Deportation covers the deportation of Chechen people and others during World War II and the resulting generational trauma and political issues.
The project Caucasus: Conflicts covers the modern history of the North Caucasus, recalling wars, terrorist attacks, and key political events over the last 30 years.
Reaching Audiences
Media Climate
Reporters Without Borders’ World Press Freedom Index ranks Russia, including the North Caucasus, 162nd out of 180 countries.
In February 2024, RFE/RL was designated an “undesirable organization” by Russian authorities. Russian citizens face up to five years in prison for cooperating with “undesirable” organizations or aiding in their financing within Russia.
Support Independent Journalism
Join us in advocating for press freedom and supporting RFE/RL journalists who have been unjustly imprisoned.