Professional profile
Born in 1987, Ilia Klishin has worked across journalism, digital editorial leadership, media management, and consulting. His public work focuses on Russian politics, digital propaganda, independent media, and the political and cultural experience of Russian-speaking exile.
Current work
Klishin is co-founder of KF Agency, a media consulting practice focused on editorial systems, audience strategy, distribution, and digital media development. He is also the founder of Volna, a Russian-language media project for relocated communities in Europe, and runs literary and community projects including ReadMe.txt and book clubs.
Past editorial roles
From 2013 to 2016, Klishin was editor-in-chief of the website of TV Rain (Dozhd). From 2016 to 2019, he led digital editorial work at RTVI during the channel’s relaunch.
Research and analysis
His analysis focuses on Russian digital propaganda, platform power, information warfare, protest politics, independent media, emigrant media, and the politics of public language.
Selected projects
Selected projects include Volna, KF Agency, ReadMe.txt, book clubs, public commentary, and editorial consulting work for media, cultural, and civic projects.
Consulting and collaboration
His consulting work covers editorial audits, audience development, distribution architecture, content strategy, newsroom processes, and practical media-product development.
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).
Education and languages
Klishin studied international relations at MGIMO and has studied in the United States and Greece. His professional work is primarily connected to Russian-language and international media contexts.
Personal
Klishin lives in Vilnius. Alongside journalism and consulting, he writes about literature and organizes reading communities.