About RFE/RL
Why should U.S. taxpayers pay for this?
A free press allows people to make informed choices about their future. By contributing to media freedom in autocratic societies and emerging democracies, RFE/RL is supporting long-term development and stability…
Isn’t this dangerous? How does RFE/RL keep our reporters safe?
In many countries RFE/RL journalists knowingly work at tremendous risk. They are often harassed, threatened, physically assaulted, or detained in connection with their professional activities. In Ukraine, our reporters are…
Isn’t RFE/RL funded by the CIA?
RFE/RL is funded by the U.S. Congress through a grant from the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM) and has had no connection to the CIA for over fifty…
Is this still necessary? Isn’t the Cold War over?
In a world of disinformation and polarization, RFE/RL’s mission is critical to allowing people to make informed decisions about their futures. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine exemplifies why our mission…
How does RFE/RL reach people?
Despite our Cold War history, today’s RFE/RL is digital-first. We reach our audiences where they are. In some countries, like Afghanistan, radio remains an important tool. In others, we have…
If the U.S. government funds RFE/RL, how can it be independent and unbiased?
An essential guarantee of RFE/RL’s journalistic credibility is the “firewall” enshrined in the enabling legislation of the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the U.S. International Broadcasting Act. The firewall…
How is RFE/RL funded and managed?
RFE/RL is funded by the U.S. Congress through the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM). USAGM is an independent federal government agency that oversees all U.S. global broadcasting. Under…
What does RFE/RL do?
RFE/RL operates as a surrogate local news broadcaster in closed, polarized, or emerging media markets. RFE/RL provides uncensored, independent reporting on digital platforms, radio, and television, in local languages for…
Where does RFE/RL report?
We report in 27 languages and engage with audiences in 23 countries including in Europe, Eurasia, Central Asia, and the Near East.
In what languages does RFE/RL report?
Albanian, Armenian, Azerbaijani, Bashkir, Belarusian, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Chechen, Crimean Tatar, Dari, English, Georgian, Hungarian, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Macedonian, Montenegrin, Pashto, Persian, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Tajik, Tatar, Turkmen, Ukrainian, and Uzbek.