Universal Rights
Independent Livestream Reporting
$40,200
To provide an independent source of news and live reporting in popular video formats with a focus on significant regional developments. The project team will produce video reporting, including live reporting and interviews, on significant political and social developments, such as protests and demonstrations in the country’s regions. Their content will be published online.
Universal Rights
Supporting Independent Regional Video Media
$41,120
To provide an independent source of Russian-language news and analysis in popular video formats covering significant developments in Russia’s regions. Video reporting in a variety of formats, including live reporting, commentary and interviews, on significant political and social topics and developments in Russian regions will be regularly produced and published online.
Universal Rights
Supporting Youth Activism
$82,202
To provide an independent source of information on issues affecting students and academic communities, and to promote pro-democracy youth activism along with free expression and civic engagement by students. The organization will regularly publish articles, guides and investigations on related topics online as well as offer other informational support and help to build networks.
Democratic Governance
Protecting the Right to Information
$330,177
To assist citizens in realizing their right to information and to improve the implementation of laws guaranteeing citizens’ right to information. A series of activities will be conducted including strategic litigation and informational campaigns to raise the awareness of these rights among the legal community, government bodies, and the public.
Universal Rights
Defending Indigenous Rights
$152,700
To defend indigenous rights. The organization will monitor violations of indigenous rights, facilitate improved institutionalization and coordination among indigenous rights activists across the country, raise awareness of the multitude of challenges facing indigenous communities, provide free legal consultations, and develop an online platform to disseminate news and map rights violations.
Citizen Participation and Inclusion
Promoting Citizen Engagement
$102,815
To support and encourage activism and civic participation by providing legal, professional, and informational resources. Project staff will monitor and distribute information about opportunities to participate in civic processes and provide legal assistance to activists and grassroots initiatives. They will also publish information about pressing issues of the day, conduct journalistic investigations into matters of corruption and incompetence, and provide educational opportunities to students.
Universal Rights
Supporting Freedom of Expression
$116,800
To support critical thinking and freedom of expression. The organization will monitor freedom of expression in the country and will publish the results of its findings online. It will also offer online webinars and lectures to young people interested in learning more about activism, history, constitutional law, and human rights.
Universal Rights
Protecting Human Rights
$178,890
To reduce the incidence of human rights violations, and to raise citizens’ awareness and knowledge of their rights and the means available to protect them. Information will be collected on human rights violations and legal assistance will be provided to victims. Additionally, media content will be produced and disseminated online to raise awareness of human rights and gender-based discrimination.
Citizen Participation and Inclusion
Activist Network
$110,000
To provide independent news and analysis on social, political, and human rights developments and to develop civic activism among youth. The organization will publish a website with reporting and analysis on the development of democratic norms and competitive politics. A training and networking program will be organized to help young activists develop leadership skills and carry out independent civic projects.
Citizen Participation and Inclusion
Promoting Civic Engagement
$89,984
To foster and support civic activism and grassroots initiatives and encourage activism. In two often overlooked cities, a series of trainings and workshops to promote civic engagement and activism will be held for a selected cohort and opportunities for interregional and international networking will be provided. Events will also be organized for the public about getting involved in their communities.
Democratic Governance
Investigating Transnational Crime and Corruption
$176,300
To expand understanding of the scope and nature of Russian kleptocracy in the form of international corruption scandals perpetuated by both oligarchs and public officials, and of the threats such behavior poses to democracy. The organization will conduct investigations into specific major cases, undertake research to better gauge the scope of such activities, and work with an international network of anti-corruption activists, journalists, and law enforcement to publish the results of its investigations and to advocate for increased adherence to rule of law.
Universal Rights
Promoting Academic Freedom
$149,210
To leverage networks in defense of independent thought and scholarship. Through in-depth field research and interviews, publishing reports and articles across different platforms, support for academic collaboration across borders, and presentations at international conferences, the project pushes back against increasing state control of the academic sphere and advances basic rights.
Universal Rights
Advancing Human Rights
$40,701
To defend human rights through providing legal assistance, psychological support, and informational resources to a vulnerable community and to raise awareness of the prevalence of hate crimes against the community. Project staff will offer legal aid, monthly psychological support meetings, and trainings and seminars, as well as monitoring and reporting on hate crimes.
Universal Rights
Defending Human Rights
$195,578
To build the capacity of lawyers and human rights defenders and foster collaboration. Legal trainings and collaborative meetings will be held and will provide an opportunity for individuals to discuss pressing issues safely, network, collaborate, and strengthen their abilities to assist victims of human rights abuses pursue justice, advocate for accountability, and combat impunity.
Universal Rights
Supporting Human Rights Defenders
$274,322
To provide support to democrats at risk. In response to the ongoing authoritarian crackdown against civil society, the organization will offer emergency assistance and relocation support, including medical and psychological care and legal fees. A respite and rehabilitation program will also be offered to prevent burnout and help activists continue their work.
Citizen Participation and Inclusion
Digitizing Civic Engagement
$134,967
To promote civic engagement and democratic ideas and values. Seminars and trainings will be conducted on civic education and the benefits of activism to local communities. In addition, legal and informational consultations will be offered to activists who are interested in protecting their rights. Digital tools will also be developed and maintained to impart practical skills to youth activists, connect activists to their elected officials, and assist with advocacy campaigns.
Universal Rights
Independent Internet Television
$120,754
To provide the public with an independent source of reporting and commentary in video format on significant developments. To address the lack of independent reporting and analysis on state-controlled TV news channels, an internet television program to provide viewers with engaging reporting and commentary on significant issues will be produced and published online.
Universal Rights
Defending Internet Freedom
$232,000
To defend the digital rights of citizens, including their rights to freedom of expression and association, security, and privacy online, and to promote public awareness and engagement around significant internet freedom issues. Strategic litigation, public awareness raising, and advocacy will be conducted on significant digital rights issues, and related monitoring and analysis will be regularly published online.
Universal Rights
Promoting Equal Rights
$44,120
To advance democratic values through combatting discrimination and promoting equal rights. Through providing free legal and psychological assistance, as well as informational resources, project staff will support vulnerable elements of the population. They will also seek to raise awareness of the challenges and improve the legal literacy of the target population through sharing information about legal rights and avenues of redress and promoting discussion of human rights.
Universal Rights
Defending Human Rights
$74,760
To promote respect for human rights by providing legal assistance and raising awareness of human rights violations. Project staff will offer free legal aid to residents of the region, monitor human rights abuses at the hands of security services, publish reports, and raise awareness of the regional situation with local media outlets.
Democratic Norms, Ideas and Values
Independent Research and Analysis
$195,766
To monitor, research, and analyze public opinion, and to disseminate unbiased information about trends and opinions to a national and international audience. Project staff will use several sociological research methods to gather information and will publish their results and analysis across a wide range of platforms in the country and abroad.
Democratic Norms, Ideas and Values
$105,345
To monitor, research, and analyze public opinion, and to disseminate unbiased information about trends and opinions to a national and international audience. Project staff will use several sociological research methods to gather information and will publish their results and analysis across a wide range of platforms in the country and abroad.
Universal Rights
Enhancing Public Access to Information
$111,730
To provide the public with accurate information on foreign and security policy, and to foster the capacity of journalists and NGOs to utilize new digital tools and research techniques in their work, along with regional networks among them. In-depth investigative reporting, coverage of current events, and analysis will be published online along with related video and social media content, and mentorship programs and a resource center will be provided.
Universal Rights
$69,955
To provide the public with accurate information on Russian foreign and security policy, and to foster the capacity of Russian journalists and NGOs to utilize new digital tools and research techniques in their work, along with regional networks among them. In-depth investigative reporting, coverage of current events, and analysis will be published online; a regional training and mentorship program will be conducted, and a resource center will be provided.
Democratic Governance
Supporting Regional Activism
$63,092
To promote accountability and transparency through investigations and analysis of local instances of corruption and to foster a network of engaged citizens. Short news clips and video documentaries will be published online. Trainings and seminars will also be conducted to enhance the skills of local activists and engage volunteers in local civic initiatives.
Democratic Governance
Supporting the Development of Democratic Processes
$200,926
To support the development of democratic governance processes and to increase the availability of nonpartisan specialized public policy research, independent media on local governance issues, and public initiatives to improve governance processes. Public policy research will be conducted through an in-depth collaborative process, and the research will be published online and presented in a series of public events. Media content about local governance and related public initiatives will be carried out.
Democratic Norms, Ideas and Values
Supporting Russia’s Democratic Movement
$1,153,922
To strengthen networks among activists, politicians, and leaders of public thought, and to advocate for international support of Russia’s democratic development. Expert analysis on politics and current affairs will be produced. Objective, fact-based reporting and supporting evidence will be used to challenge the central narratives of disinformation campaigns. Publications will be produced, and a series of events, public presentations, and meetings will be hosted with the authors to encourage public discussion of important findings.
Universal Rights
Supporting Civil Society
$426,364
To support the continued work of and to strengthen civil society in the region, and to support democrats at risk facing threats of persecution and repression due to their work. The organization will offer technical resources to help democrats at risk continue their work in increasingly challenging conditions. It will also support the ongoing professional development of activists.
Universal Rights
Supporting Freedom of Information and Expression
$120,000
To provide an independent source of information on social, political, and human rights developments and to foster a community of discussion around these issues. A website will be maintained with regularly updated news and information on the development of democratic norms in Russia, and a platform for civil society voices will be provided.
Democratic Norms, Ideas and Values
Engaging with History
$60,050
To advance understanding of past political repressions, including knowledge of victims of human rights abuses and former political prisoners, and to engage with the public and promote discussion about difficult historical questions. Project staff will build out and supplement an online database and website with newly-accessible information and hold public events with experts on relevant topics.
Citizen Participation and Inclusion
Empowering Women Leaders
$42,498
To raise civic consciousness among women and build public support for female leadership. Seminars will be organized to empower women, build their leadership skills, and connect them to opportunities for civic involvement. An information campaign will also be conducted to normalize female leadership and to stimulate public discussion on expanding the role of women in traditional society.
Democratic Governance
Increasing Access to Justice for Workers
$36,800
To facilitate access to justice for victims of predatory employment practices and to raise awareness of labor rights violations. Legal consultations and defense will be offered to workers and their relatives whose rights have been violated. Informational campaigns will be conducted to educate citizens about their rights as workers and will target industries and geographies that are particularly vulnerable to labor exploitation.
Citizen Participation and Inclusion
Increasing Local Civic Participation
$36,786
To increase interest and participation in local civic processes and to raise the capacity of initiative groups to advocate on topics of local importance. The organization will host a series of lectures and trainings to help citizens organize and engage on local issues. Technical skills and effective communication strategies will be covered in the trainings, and a pool of subject-matter experts will be recruited to participate in public discussions and roundtables.
Citizen Participation and Inclusion
Strengthening the Resilience of Civil Society
$124,216
To strengthen the resilience of civil society and to facilitate the rehabilitation and re-integration of activists who have been persecuted for their pro-democracy work. Seminars will be conducted to help activists adapt to life after political repression, adopt best practices for physical and digital security, and find pathways for continued involvement in civil society.
Universal Rights
Documenting Repression
$411,518
To foster the respect of, and adherence to, international norms on human rights, the rule of law, and democratic values, and to raise domestic and international awareness of these issues. Research will be conducted on these issues, legal proceedings will be monitored, and information based on project research will be published. Legal assistance to victims of human rights violations will also be offered.
Universal Rights
Human Rights Monitoring
$124,767
To raise public awareness of politically motived arrests and detentions while providing assistance to citizens prosecuted for exercising their right to free expression and assembly. Sophisticated monitoring will be conducted to track and bring attention to such violations and a program of informational and legal assistance carried out. A program will be conducted to improve the organizational and technical capacities of a prominent nationwide network.
Universal Rights
Protecting Human Rights
$90,508
To strengthen institutional capacity to resist political pressure and act as a convening hub for regional organizations. This supplement will help the organization secure legal assistance to navigate the ever-changing legal environment, and allow it to assist small groups and initiatives through sharing experience and knowledge and creating possibilities for collaboration.
Citizen Participation and Inclusion
Expanding the Reach of Democratic Actors
$900,000
To assist activists and civic actors to broaden their base of support and expand their messaging reach, a series of workshops, trainings, and mentorships will be provided. These activities will deliver the data, technical knowledge, and networks of mutual support needed to broaden public support for democratic values including meaningful democratic processes, greater state transparency and accountability, and more responsive local governance.
Democratic Norms, Ideas and Values
Independent News and Analysis
$110,300
To increase the availability of high-quality independent news and analysis on significant political, economic, and social developments and to promote open debate and discussion around topics of public interest. Analytical reporting and commentary on current events will be published online, and the development of a new generation of Russia analysts will be fostered.
Universal Rights
Supporting Collaborative Investigative Journalism
$140,407
To increase the availability of high-quality Russia-focused investigative journalism available to the Russian-language and international public as well as to amplify the public’s awareness of and access to such reporting. Investigative journalism with a particular focus on collaborative reporting by regional and international outlets will be published, and digital content to amplify the public’s awareness of this reporting will be produced.
Universal Rights
Supporting Independent Media
$220,177
To continue to provide an independent source of information, news, and analysis to the Russian-language public on significant political and social topics, in particular despite the current anti-democratic crackdown. News coverage, original reporting, and analytical commentary will be regularly produced and published online as well as shared through social media networks.
Universal Rights
$28,385
To provide an independent source of information on current events and to increase access to grassroots movements and civil society actors. Regular video programming that specializes in reporting on significant events organized by civic activists, grassroots movements, and human rights defenders will be produced and published online, through the live-streaming of events and interviews with activists and experts.
Universal Rights
Defending Human Rights
$132,520
To raise the awareness of human rights violations committed in the region and to lower tensions between minority communities and local officials. Free legal aid will be provided, a series of roundtables, press conferences, and private meetings will be held to deepen local understanding of human rights, and mini-documentary films will be created.
Universal Rights
Supporting Freedom of Expression
$40,446
To raise awareness of local issues, human rights problems, and issues facing local civil society. The organization will publish an independent media news site covering local issues, especially those relevant to civil society organizations and the sociopolitical environment in which they work. The organization will regularly update its site with reporting and analysis on news in its region.
Democratic Norms, Ideas and Values
Civic Education
$134,460
To use education and activism to further understanding of past political repressions and support local civil society. Project staff will organize events, excursions, and historical memory initiatives to promote better awareness and discussion of recent history, filling a vacuum in society and state education. They will also offer legal assistance, educational resources, and material support to local activists and grassroots initiatives, encouraging youth participation.
Universal Rights
Independent Internet Television
$41,720
To provide the public with an independent source of reporting and commentary in video format on significant developments. To address the lack of independent reporting and analysis on state-controlled TV news channels, an internet television program to provide viewers with engaging reporting and commentary on significant issues will be produced and published online.
Universal Rights
Regional Video Media
$39,975
To provide the public with an independent source of reporting and commentary in video format on significant developments. To address the lack of independent reporting and analysis on state-controlled TV news channels, an internet television program to provide viewers with engaging reporting and commentary on significant issues will be produced and published online.
Universal Rights
Supporting Independent Media
$113,600
To provide an independent source of information on significant developments in the region, and to increase the availability of investigative reporting on topics connected to Russia and the Baltic region. An independent source of information and analysis on developments in the Baltic countries, Russia, and the world will be provided for Russian-language audiences.
Citizen Participation and Inclusion
Fostering Grassroots Organizing
$385,000
At the request of Russian-speaking partners, the organization will share resources and international models on political process monitoring and civic and political organizing.
Citizen Participation and Inclusion
Supporting Inclusive and Participatory Political Processes
$355,000
To assist civic actors in more effectively demonstrating the value of more responsive governance, a new program will be piloted to increase the public’s engagement with local governance processes in a more transparent and participatory manner. Through mentoring and guided practice in consultation, communication and outreach, the program will help local actors successfully address community issues together, thus providing a positive example for other to follow in the future.
Democratic Governance
Countering Transborder Kleptocracy
$100,893
To increase the capacity and effectiveness of those working to combat transborder kleptocracy and to enhance the effectiveness of international and domestic accountability mechanisms in affected countries. The organization will create an archive of documentary evidence relevant to major cases of kleptocracy, produce investigations into transborder corruption, and analyze the efficacy of Western anti-corruption mechanisms. As part of the project, new international networks between journalists, policy makers, and law enforcement bodies will be created.
Democratic Norms, Ideas and Values
Civil Rights Education
$84,986
To raise the capacity of local activists to teach young people and their families about their rights and to engage with their communities. Free legal and informational sessions will be provided to young people and citizens about their civic and human rights. Exhibitions and roundtables will be organized to facilitate discussion of local and national issues, and two independent digital information platforms for activists and local citizens will be maintained.
Citizen Participation and Inclusion
Innovative Democracy Education
$61,278
To educate activists and aspiring political leaders about the use of technology to improve civic processes, especially local governance, and to foster public discussion on the adoption of digital tools to support democratic reform. A series of trainings will be held with experts on digital policy issues. A workshop on digital security and an in-person study visit will also be organized.
Citizen Participation and Inclusion
Supporting Civil Society
$1,143,031
To inform citizens about human rights issues and to help citizens find democratic methods of resolving such issues. A website with regularly updated news, information, and events about these issues will be maintained. Logistical and legal support and technical assistance will be offered to independent journalists and civil society activists.
Democratic Governance
Supporting Democratic Institutions
$83,380
To provide practical trainings to human rights defenders who conduct monitoring missions in Russia’s regions. Expert assistance and coordination efforts will be organized to enhance cooperation between human rights defenders across the country and to increase their capacity to represent victims of abuse and negligence. Psychological and legal assistance will also be carried out to combat burnout among human rights defenders and an informational campaign to support their work will be conducted.
Democratic Norms, Ideas and Values
Legal Analysis and Regional Reporting
$31,611
To support independent journalism and analysis on issues related to civil society and the rule of law. Articles and analyses by experts on themes related to legislation and judicial processes will be published online, and a database of legal information will be hosted for use by journalists and researchers. A seminar series will be conducted to teach regional journalists and activists how to use these resources to improve local reporting.
Democratic Governance
Supporting Innovative Civic Processes
$67,213
To promote the transparency of civic processes by refining innovative monitoring methods. Technical tools and online resources will be developed to enable activists, NGOs and professional researchers to monitor civic processes. Trainings and presentations will be held to show the utility and effectiveness of different methodological approaches.
Citizen Participation and Inclusion
Engaging Regional Activists
$495,928
To increase the professionalism of local civic activists and to promote cooperation among local activists. Research and reporting on local-level civic activism will be conducted, and organizations and activists will be helped to develop their capacity to conduct information and advocacy campaigns and to address systemic rights violations and other issues in their communities.
Universal Rights
Promoting Civic Engagement
$74,222
To provide independent and objective news and analysis about regional politics and foster networking and collaboration amongst independent activists, journalists, and civil society actors. Project staff will regularly publish news and analysis on their website, as well as investigations into regional corruption. They will also support local initiatives and activists and facilitate civic engagement through supporting civic processes.
Universal Rights
Advancing the Rights of a Marginalized Community
$50,550
To help members of a marginalized community defend their rights and build networks. Project staff will organize a series of trainings and workshops to teach participants about their rights and how to defend them in a remote region with very little activism. They will work with locals to create safe spaces and disseminate information about available resources.
Universal Rights
Documenting Human Rights Abuses
$139,898
To further the pursuit of justice for victims of human rights abuses and preserve evidence of past crimes to promote transitional justice and combat impunity. Instances of grave human rights abuses will be investigated through open source methods, witnesses will be interviewed, and documents will be analyzed and logged into a database. The information gathered will be used to support court proceedings at the national and international level.
Universal Rights
Digital Skills for Civil Society
$107,023
To strengthen the independent media and civil society community by improving the digital, outreach and other skills of civic actors. The organization will organize and host a series of educational events for independent journalists and democratic activists with a particular focus on improving digital and outreach skills and sharing knowledge. The supplement will provide core support and support for two additional educational courses.
Universal Rights
Human Rights Education and Multimedia
$110,004
Тo improve understanding of the role of political repression in history and modern society and to raise awareness of the problems facing civil society. The organization will develop a podcast series, which will relay stories of individual and collective experiences of political repression and human rights abuses. The organization will continue educational outreach by hosting public events and webinars, responding to public requests for information, and convening discussions on modern forms of political repression.
Citizen Participation and Inclusion
Civic Leadership Training
$228,000
To develop the capacities, skills, and knowledge of aspiring civil society leaders, and to foster networks and promote new collaborations among civic activists. A leadership education and development program will be implemented, and discussions and public presentations of reforms by experts will be organized.
Democratic Governance
Defending Human Rights
$321,264
To aid to victims of human rights abuses, combat impunity, advocate for increased protections against torture, raise awareness of how often torture is used, and reduce the societal stigma surrounding torture victims. Through investigations, litigation, and advocacy, project staff will address the problem of torture at the hands of the authorities and challenge the impunity law enforcement often enjoys.
Citizen Participation and Inclusion
Promoting Democratic Values
$55,272
To promote democratic values through creating spaces for open discussion and debate about topical subjects and strengthening inter-regional networks of civically-minded young people. Project staff will organize discussion and debate clubs, film screenings, and roundtables with experts and activists. The project will foster critical thinking, through giving participants the opportunity to learn about subjects and practice skills not readily obtainable within the current education system and to network with likeminded peers.
Democratic Norms, Ideas and Values
History and Human Rights
$75,000
To facilitate interest in studying history and promote awareness and discussion of past political repressions, especially amongst youth. The organization will hold educational seminars, events, and exhibits for teachers, students and the public; organize civic initiatives centered around historical memory; provide and maintain archival and virtual resources to aid in research; and encourage youth volunteers to become civically active.
