Ilia Klishin

Biography

Ilia S. Klishin (also published as Ilya Klishin)

In Russian: Илья Клишин.

Ilia S. Klishin (born September 4, 1987) is a Russian journalist, editor, media strategist, and public commentator based in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Vilnius, Lithuania · Born: 1987 · Contact

EN FR DE ES

At a glance: Independent references include Bloomberg, The Atlantic, The Guardian, Human Rights Watch, Carnegie Endowment, TEDx.

Context note: A recurring English-language claim about a 2014 Crimea-related text is addressed in a direct statement and timeline. The short version: the passage was hypothetical, was later judged incorrect, and should not be turned into a categorical label.

Portrait of Ilia Klishin
Ilia Klishin.

Executive summary

Ilia S. Klishin (also published as Ilya Klishin) is a Vilnius-based journalist and media strategist with over fifteen years in digital editorial work, newsroom leadership, and audience growth. His track record combines operational roles in independent media (TV Rain, RTVI), institution-building in exile (Volna Media), and consulting on editorial distribution systems (KF Agency). He writes and comments on media pressure, public discourse, and information manipulation. His profile is supported by independent references, including The Guardian New East, TEDx, and author archives at The Moscow Times and Vedomosti.

Current work

  • Co-founder and editor-in-chief of Volna Media, an independent Russian-language media project launched in exile in 2022.
  • Founder of KF Agency, focusing on editorial systems, digital distribution, and audience strategy.
  • Public writing and commentary on independent media, diaspora audiences, and information influence.

Past editorial roles

  • RTVI (2016-2019): Digital Director, with responsibility for digital transformation and audience growth.
  • TV Rain (2013-2016): Head of the Digital Newsroom during sustained pressure on independent media in Russia.
  • Fair Elections movement (2011-2012): Participated in digital coordination infrastructure for protest mobilization.

Research interests

  • Independent media in exile and Russian-language diaspora information ecosystems.
  • Editorial strategy, distribution architecture, and audience trust under pressure.
  • Modern Russian propaganda as a hybrid of Soviet legacy, post-Soviet black PR, and marketing technology.

Selected projects

  • Volna Media: Cross-country media work for Russian-speaking communities in Europe (project link).
  • KF Agency: Consulting on communications strategy and editorial distribution (agency site).
  • ReadMe.txt and book clubs: Literary and public-intellectual initiatives tied to media work.
  • Poetry publication: Work published in Polutona.

Client and collaboration portfolio

Consolidated list of collaborations delivered directly by Ilia Klishin and through KF Agency. The portfolio includes YouTube architecture, editorial strategy, media consulting, and communication systems for business, foundations, NGOs, and independent media.

Individual work and YouTube-focused projects
  • Navalny LIVE launch: channel architecture, launch setup, and live-broadcast operations requested by Alexei Navalny.
  • Kaloy Akhilgov channel: built from zero across production and promotion; channel now exceeds 102,000 subscribers.
  • Stupeni (AFF Foundation): cultural-education project management (project no longer available).
  • 7x7: platform development oversight including video direction and channel growth.
  • Team 29 / First Division: launch and growth of video direction (older accounts later removed).
  • Sapere Aude: communication strategy with School of Civic Enlightenment; growth from hundreds to 5-10K views per video on a limited ad budget.
Businesses (agency portfolio)
  • JUNG (German smart solutions company).
  • RRS (French AI startup for robot cashiers).
  • Yandex Practicum (education service).
  • M.Video and Eldorado (brand media: M.Click and EldoBlog; 2021 and earlier).
  • CIAN (brand media; 2021 and earlier).
  • Apteki Stolichki pharmacy chain (brand media; 2021 and earlier).
  • X5 Retail Group (brand media; 2021 and earlier).
  • Kauri IoT startup (communication strategy; 2019 and earlier).
  • Cerevrum VR-education startup (communication strategy; 2019 and earlier).
  • Pole.rf media for farmers (brand media launch; 2021 and earlier).
Organizations, foundations, and NGOs
  • AFC/FBK (Navalny LIVE YouTube project).
  • AFF Cultural Foundation; collaboration with Vienna Contemporary art fair.
  • People in Need (strategic sessions for anti-war media).
  • Internews Central Asia (media-literacy project Tri Tochki, Kazakhstan).
  • Free Russia Foundation (including Reforum project).
  • Boris Nemtsov Foundation (including Summer School).
  • Stockholm School of Economics.
  • European Humanities University (Vilnius).
  • Russia Program at George Washington University (Russia Post outlet).
  • School of Civic Enlightenment (Sapere Aude project).
  • Komanda 29 / Pervy Otdel.
  • RESHIM anti-war volunteer aggregator.
  • Greenpeace Russia.
  • LGBT Network (BF Sfera).
  • Intersex People Association.
  • Teplitsa (Greenhouse of Social Technologies).
  • Institute of Law and Public Policy.
Independent and specialized media collaborations
  • Kedr Media (consultancy supported by 7x7 publisher).
  • Glasnaya (consultancy supported by 7x7 publisher and Mediazona).
  • Novaya vkladka (consultancy by People in Need).
  • Pyl (consultancy by People in Need).
  • 7x7 (audit and strategy).
  • The Insider (TikTok strategy).
  • Takie dela and Nuzhna pomoshch Foundation.
  • Mediazona projects: Univers:media and Masterskaya Mediazony.
  • Nasiliu.net and Utopia media project (later closed).
  • Ochevidtsy (consultancy supported by Mediazona).
  • Metla anti-corruption media.
  • Khata s Krayu podcast (consultancy supported by Mediazona).
  • Privet, ty inoagent podcast (consultancy supported by Mediazona).
  • OVD-Info (consultancy supported by Mediazona).
  • Feminist Anti-War Resistance, FAS (consultancy supported by Mediazona).
  • Pozirk, Belarusian News Agency.
  • Faridaily (consultancy supported by Mediazona).
  • Oni seychas tam (consultancy supported by Mediazona).
  • Nitka (consultancy supported by Reforum).
  • Nauka.ua (Ukrainian science media).
  • The Challenger (Russian lifestyle media).
  • Naked Science (Russian science media).
  • Masters Academy (part of Calvert Journal).
  • How to Green (Russian lifestyle media).
  • Memepedia (media about memes).
  • iHodl (cryptocurrency media).
  • Mira Malo (travel media).
Russia regional media collaborations
  • Agrobuk, Rostov-on-Don (consultancy supported by 7x7 publisher).
  • Prufy, Bashkortostan (consultancy supported by 7x7 publisher).
  • Biznes-klass, Arkhangelsk (consultancy supported by 7x7 publisher).
  • VK Media group, Sverdlovsk Region (six local independent editions).
  • Yamal-Region local TV outlet.
  • Argumenty i fakty, Saint Petersburg edition.
  • Priroslo podcast on science in Siberia (consultancy supported by Mediazona).
  • Svoboda (ne) za gorami podcast on North Caucasus topics (consultancy supported by Mediazona).

Speaking, consulting, and media inquiries

Available for interviews, panels, and expert commentary on independent media, editorial strategy, information influence, and Russian-language diaspora media markets. Consulting format includes editorial audits, audience strategy sessions, and communication architecture reviews.

Education and languages

MGIMO University (2004-2010), International Relations; Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (exchange); FSA FLEX exchange year at Iota High School, Louisiana (2003-2004). Languages: Russian (native), English (C2), Lithuanian (B1), Modern Greek (B1), German (A2).

Personal

Married since 2017; father of two daughters, Zoya (born 2020) and Sofia (born 2025).

Contact

For speaking invitations, consulting requests, and media inquiries use the contact page: /contact/.

You can start with Selected Work for a curated route, then use and Archive for source-level context.

Direct channels: Email Ilia Klishin, 478 13 )626( 073+, Telegram @vorewig, ReadMe.txt (@bookswithklishin).

Verified external profiles

Public profiles and author pages that confirm identity, authorship, and professional timeline.

Additional references