Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)
➡Funding:
$129M+ annually from the U.S. government (via USAID & NED).
• In 2019, USAID gave $6M specifically to counter “Russian disinformation” in Central Asia.
• Receives funding via the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which is directly controlled by the U.S. government.
➡What they do:
RFE/RL operates in former Soviet states, Iran, and China to push anti-government narratives under the guise of “independent journalism.” Its purpose is not journalism but to undermine governments opposed to U.S. foreign policy while ignoring corruption in pro-Western states.
➡Major Examples:
1. RFE/RL in Belarus (2020) – Supporting Regime Change
• Actively promoted opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya and framed the 2020 protests as a “democratic revolution.”
• Published over 1,200 articles and videos covering anti-Lukashenko protests while censoring any mention of foreign involvement.
• USAID-backed RFE journalists openly coordinated with Belarusian opposition Telegram channels like NEXTA, which helped organize protests.
➡RFE/RL in Russia
• Heavily promoted Alexei Navalny for years, presenting him as a legitimate opposition leader while ignoring his Western funding ties.
• Funded reports linking Putin to the so-called “Panama Papers” in 2016—despite U.S. allies like Ukraine’s Poroshenko appearing in the leaks.
• In 2021, RFE/RL refused to register as a “foreign agent” in Russia, despite being a U.S. government-funded entity.
➡RFE/RL in Iran
• Operates under Radio Farda, which spreads pro-Western content and amplifies anti-Iranian protests while ignoring U.S. sanctions’ impact.
• In 2019, RFE/RL repeatedly ran false reports claiming Iran was “collapsing under protests” while downplaying U.S. interference.
• Heavily promotes the exiled MKO (MEK) terrorist group, which is funded by the U.S. and wants regime change in Iran.
➡RFE/RL in Ukraine – Running NATO Talking Points
• Since 2014, it has been a major player in anti-Russian propaganda, helping justify U.S. intervention.
• Spread the Snake Island hoax in 2022, claiming Ukrainian soldiers had “heroically died” (later proven false when they surrendered).
• Regularly publishes articles blaming Russia for every Ukrainian failure, while whitewashing Ukrainian government corruption.
➡RFE/RL in Kazakhstan
• During the 2022 unrest in Kazakhstan, RFE/RL provided round-the-clock coverage, portraying the protests as a “popular uprising” rather than a foreign-backed coup attempt.
• After Kazakhstan cracked down on USAID-backed NGOs, RFE/RL framed it as an attack on press freedom rather than exposing foreign influence.
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