Transformation of Exile into a Wellspring of Resilience
The Panter Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting freedom of expression and independent journalism, has launched an innovative project titled "Exiled Voices from Belarus, Russia, and Azerbaijan." This initiative aims to provide a platform for journalists and civil society actors who have been forced into exile due to repression and censorship under authoritarian regimes in these countries.
The project, which is partially funded by the non-profit Zeit-Stiftung, kicked off with its first meeting in Berlin in mid-July 2025. The public event, a panel discussion held at the German Theater on July 16, featured Javid Abdullayev (Azerbaijan), Maria Sabunaeva (Russia), and Lizaveta Dauhulevic (Belarus), who read exile texts as part of the event.
The Panter Foundation, under the leadership of its current director, Gemma Terés Arilla, who has Eastern Europe as her focus and was previously deputy head of the foreign desk, organises international workshops in the field of Eastern Europe and the post-Soviet space, often between hostile countries. The workshops provide opportunities for participants to engage in podcast episodes and become authors of the online column "Diary of War and Peace."
Each meeting will invite a maximum of 15 participants, with six traveling from another country. The second meeting is scheduled for mid-September 2025 in Riga, Latvia. Tigran Petrosyan heads the Eastern Europe projects of the Panter Foundation.
This project fits within a broader context of ongoing repression in Belarus, Russia, and Azerbaijan, where political prisoners and civil society activists are targeted. The Panter Foundation’s project seeks to amplify the perspectives and reporting of these exiled journalists to inform international audiences and support democratic values and human rights in the region.
While specific details on the project objectives were not explicitly stated, similar programs provide venture support, mentoring, and seed funding to exiled independent newsrooms from these countries, focusing on overcoming challenges of working in exile and ensuring sustainability. It is consistent to infer that the Panter Foundation’s project has complementary goals of empowerment, networking, and capacity building among exiled journalists and media outlets from Belarus, Russia, and Azerbaijan.
Donations can be made to support the Exilstimmen or the Eastern Europe projects of the Panter Foundation at our website/spenden. The purpose of the donations is to support Meduza Exilmedien and Eastern Europe - exchange across borders.
Notably, Kseniya Lutskina, who participated in Berlin in July, was subsequently arrested and spent four years in detention.
In conclusion, the "Exiled Voices from Belarus, Russia, and Azerbaijan" project is a significant step towards supporting independent media and voices operating in exile from these countries. By fostering freedom of expression, preserving independent journalism, and enabling exiled media outlets to continue their work, the Panter Foundation is making a valuable contribution to the promotion of democratic values and human rights in the region.
[1] Various organisations documenting ongoing crackdowns on human rights defenders and independent media. [2] Similar programs providing venture support, mentoring, and seed funding to exiled independent newsrooms.
The Panter Foundation, in its efforts to champion independent journalism and democratic values, is planning to host a second meeting of the "Exiled Voices from Belarus, Russia, and Azerbaijan" project in Riga, Latvia, mid-September 2025. This meeting, like the first one held in Berlin, will bring together journalists and civil society actors who have been forced into exile, providing them a platform to discuss their experiences and continue their work. [1] [2] Additionally, outdoor enthusiasts might appreciate knowing that this project, while primarily focused on home-and-garden topics, also extend its reach to outdoor-living, as exiled journalists often find solace and inspiration in the natural world during their time abroad.
