Russia’s liberal “Ekho Moskvy” (Echo of Moscow) radio, which was taken off air in March this year, shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has found a new home in Berlin.
Considered one of the last independent voices in Russia, it was one of the many media outlets forced to shut down following a clampdown by the Kremlin over coverage of the war.
A number of the its employees, including 38 year-old deputy editor-in-chief Maxim Kurnikov, left the county. While Kurnikov has made a new life in the German capital along with several former colleagues, others have headed for Latvia, Lithuania and Georgia.
Since earlier this month, Kurnikov and his team have restarted their broadcasts on an app simply called “Echo”.
“It works just like a radio,” Kurnikov told AFP, claiming that the app was fast becoming one of the top downloads in Russia.
The new outlet also brings content being produced on other platforms by former Echo of Moscow journalists under the same roof. “Echo” aims to broadcast live for 10 to 12 hours a day, with replays filling the rest of the time. A website and two Telegram channels are also part of the project.
“We have combined all of our team’s YouTube channels. We want to offer our audience a complete picture of what is happening in Russia,” Kurnikov said.
Around 20 journalists are currently working with “Echo”, and around 10 more people are expected to join in the near future, he said.
The plan is for much of the “Echo” team to eventually work from Berlin, in offices and a studio paid for by donations.
Moscow born, Berlin-based German writer Vladimir Kaminer, was one of the driving forces behind the “Echo” comeback. He has worked closely with Kurnikov to bring the project to life.
There will also be insight from within Russia. The radio station’s veteran editor-in-chief Alexei Venediktov — who has been with Echo of Moscow since its founding in 1990 — has remained in his home country and is part of the new project.
This story first appeared on RadioInfo.asia