Mir
The International Television and Radio Company Mir (Межгосударственная телерадиокомпания Мир) is a multinational, state-run broadcaster created to provide Russian-language content across the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The idea of establishing Mir was first proposed by former Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev. In 1992, eight CIS heads of state signed the agreement to establish the broadcaster. Ukraine, however, declined to participate, and since 2015 has banned the channel outright, citing programming that was perceived as advocating political change within the country.
The company’s portfolio today includes its flagship general-interest television channel Mir, the thematic Mir Kino (cinema channel), the 24-hour news service Mir 24, and Radio Mir. Together, these outlets provide cross-border programming in Russian, targeting audiences across the CIS region.
Media assets
Television: Mir, World Premium TV Channel, Mir24
Radio: Radio Mir
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
Mir is formally structured as a multi-state intergovernmental company. While all member governments contribute to its oversight, the Russian Federation retains the largest stake and exerts the greatest influence over its operations. Russian experts interviewed in March 2023 and June 2024 consistently highlighted Russia’s predominance in decision-making and its outsized role in shaping editorial and strategic priorities.
Source of funding and budget
The broadcaster is financed through interstate agreements among CIS member states, with each government contributing to the operating budget. In practice, Russia has long been the largest financial backer. Experts interviewed for this report in March 2023 and June 2024 noted that Russia’s contribution far outweighs those of other member states. However, financial transparency remains limited: detailed revenue and expenditure figures for 2024 and 2025 are not publicly disclosed.
Editorial independence
Mir’s editorial line is closely aligned with the political interests of its founding governments, particularly the Kremlin. The broadcaster refrains from publishing content critical of CIS authorities and consistently promotes narratives favourable to Russian policy. Russian editorial influence is particularly evident in the programming of Mir 24, which increasingly mirrors the messaging of Russian state media outlets such as VGTRK and RT.
Despite operating across multiple jurisdictions, Mir lacks any statutory protections for editorial independence. Nor has any independent oversight or external evaluation mechanism been introduced to safeguard its content from political interference. As of June 2025, there is still no evidence of internal statutes or regulatory provisions establishing safeguards for impartiality.
August 2025