On June 2, 2016, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s (RFE/RL) Russian Service, Radio Svoboda, published a searchable archive of 26,000 audio clips of programs they’ve produced and broadcasted, available online and free to the public. RFE/RL is a private, independent international news organization producing radio, internet, television, and mobile programs in 23 countries.

Radio Svoboda collaborated with the Vera and Donald Blinken Open Society Archives (OSA) and the Hoover Institution Library & Archives for the new online archive. The published collection spans from 1953 to 1995 and includes news and political programs about the U.S.S.R. and the world; as reported by distinguished journalists, writers and historians. The collection also hosts on air readings of banned literary works, and a collection of samizdat showcases trials. “Today, when Russians are again relying on RFE/RL and Radio Svoboda for credible news, these archived programs take on a new meaning,” Nenad Pejic, RFE/RL Editor-in-Chief, said.