Provereno Media («Проверено» — Russian for «Verified») is the first independent media outlet exclusively dedicated to professional, nonpartisan fact-checking for Russian-speaking audiences worldwide.
Founded in 2020 by journalist and historian Ilya Ber, the project emerged in response to the growing wave of state-sponsored disinformation targeting Russian-speaking communities globally — a problem that intensified following the 2014 Russia–Ukraine conflict and further escalated with the full-scale invasion in 2022.
Legally established as a non-profit association — Faktikontrollilabor Provereno MTÜ — and headquartered in Tallinn, Estonia, Provereno operates independently of any state, political, or commercial influence.
Provereno's mission is twofold:
- Counter disinformation — Refute false information, manipulation, and propaganda across platforms in the public interest.
- Build media literacy — Create educational content and practical tools that empower Russian-speaking audiences to verify information and think critically.
The platform functions both as a dynamic fact-checking hub and as an encyclopedia of popular myths, inspired by the model of Snopes.com.
- Fact-checks — Verified, multi-point ratings using a nuanced color-label system (not a simple True/False binary).
- Provereno Media School — Practice-oriented training for journalists, civil society activists, researchers, and media professionals in OSINT, GeoInt, data verification, and digital forensics.
- Media literacy content — Free manuals, guides, and educational materials under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.
- Partnerships — Regular fact-checking segment «Fake of the Week» on TV Rain and collaborations with Russian exiled independent outlets and European media.
Provereno is committed to the highest international editorial standards:
| Body | Status |
|---|---|
| International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) | ✅ Verified Signatory |
| European Fact-Checking Standards Network (EFCSN) | ✅ Verified Member |
All content is published under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0, allowing free redistribution by other media and individuals.
Provereno is a non-profit, reader-supported media outlet. We do not have state funding and rely on our services, donors, and our community.
Support independent Russian-language fact-checking:
👉 Stripe
👉 Patreon
By supporting us on Patreon, you get access to three exclusive courses, monthly webinars, and direct communication with the editorial team.
All Provereno fact-checks and GitHub repos are published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license unless otherwise stated.
