Dear Friends,
 
Last month we told you about the launch of a major project, our Svoboda satellite bouquet, which will enable Russian-speaking TV viewers to access a wide range of independent journalism and international news.
 
This project elicited a great deal of curiosity on your part, so today we are answering some of the many questions you sent us.
 
I would like to use this message to reiterate our gratitude for your invaluable support. It is thanks to you, Dear Friends, that we are able to take such innovative, concrete initiatives to promote freely and independently reported news and information. So, thank you for your generosity and support.
 

Will Russian citizens in Russia be able to access this satellite bouquet?
 
The satellite’s footprint is big and includes territories where Russian-speaking people live – not only the Russian Federation itself but also the Baltic countries and the occupied parts of Ukraine.
 
Will the Kremlin be able to prevent people from receiving these programmes?
 
The content will be available free of charge on TV sets to those who have the appropriate equipment. This is a great alternative to the Internet where the threat of YouTube blocking and the growing penalisation of VPN usage is liable to restrict access to freely reported news even more. RSF has established that these satellite broadcasts will mainly come under French jurisdiction and that jamming them will be technically impossible.
 
Who is funding this project?
 
RSF is currently financing this project by means of funding assigned to crisis response, but plans to raise more funding from both private and public sector donors.