Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, has announced the launch of a new independent television channel aimed at countering Russian state propaganda and censorship. The channel, named “Novaya Strana” (New Country), will broadcast from abroad and serve as a platform for dissenting voices, investigative journalism, and uncensored news coverage for Russian audiences.
Navalnaya unveiled the initiative in a video statement released Tuesday, vowing to continue her husband’s legacy of challenging President Vladimir Putin’s regime. “This channel is for everyone who refuses to be silent, who wants to see Russia free, democratic, and honest,” she said. The announcement comes just months after Navalny’s death in a Siberian prison, which sparked international condemnation and renewed scrutiny of the Kremlin’s repression of dissent.
The new media project will be based outside of Russia due to the country’s sweeping media restrictions and classification of many independent outlets as “foreign agents” or “undesirable organizations.” Navalnaya emphasized that the channel would work with exiled Russian journalists and civil society groups to expose corruption, human rights abuses, and the realities of life under Putin’s rule.
“Novaya Strana” will feature news reports, documentaries, interviews, and commentary from leading Russian opposition figures and independent analysts. It will also provide a platform for citizen journalism and allow viewers to submit firsthand reports of events in Russia. Navalnaya described the effort as a “media resistance movement” designed to bypass Kremlin censorship and reach viewers through digital platforms and satellite broadcasting.
Navalny’s former associates, including members of his Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), are expected to contribute to the channel’s programming. Some of the team behind Navalny’s popular YouTube investigations into high-level corruption are reportedly involved in the channel’s development. Supporters hope the project will recreate the wide reach and influence of Navalny’s earlier media work, which had millions of followers before being blocked by Russian authorities.
The Kremlin has not officially commented on the launch of “Novaya Strana,” but analysts suggest the move could provoke further crackdowns on Navalny-linked organizations and individuals. Russian authorities have ramped up online censorship and legal pressure on opposition voices in recent years, particularly since the start of the war in Ukraine.
Navalnaya acknowledged the personal risk of launching such an initiative but said she was determined to carry on her husband’s mission. “Alexei believed in the power of truth. This channel will speak that truth, no matter the cost,” she stated.
International human rights groups and press freedom organizations have welcomed the launch of the channel, viewing it as a critical counterweight to Russia’s tightly controlled media environment. “Independent media is the lifeline of any democracy, and this initiative gives hope to many inside and outside Russia,” said a spokesperson for Reporters Without Borders.
The channel will initially broadcast online via YouTube and other social media platforms commonly used by Russian viewers, with plans to expand to satellite broadcasting and multilingual content. Navalnaya has called on the global Russian diaspora and supporters of free speech to help fund and support the channel’s operations.
As the political landscape in Russia remains tightly controlled, the launch of “Novaya Strana” marks a bold new chapter in the opposition’s media struggle. Yulia Navalnaya, stepping into a more prominent public role since her husband’s death, is now positioning herself at the forefront of that resistance.
Source; The Moscow Times
