Former President & CEO, Radio Free Europe & Radio Liberty
Prague, Czech Republic
Joined January 2014
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Steve Capus retweeted
Renowned Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi who returned to Iran during the 40-day war, has had his bank account frozen and sentenced to more than 5 years in prison, a travel and social media ban, and confiscation of all his assets.
Art is not a crime.
Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi has been sentenced in absentia to five years and one month in prison, confiscation of all assets, and two-year social media and travel bans. His lawyer says no hearing notice was issued.
Read more in HRANA’s report:
ow.ly/et595101sYH
Steve Capus retweeted
We remain deeply concerned by reports that U.S. citizen and former @RadioFarda_ journalist Reza Valizadeh is being denied critical medical treatment while wrongfully detained by Iranian authorities.
Reza must be released. #FreeRezaV @freerezav
radiofarda.com/a/33885375.ht…
Steve Capus retweeted
💔 Russian monsters killed a Canadian volunteer who was saving animals in Ukraine
Canadian Jesse Adams was killed on October 25 while evacuating animals from Kramatorsk. A Russian FPV drone struck a vehicle belonging to Animal Rescue Kharkiv.
Adams suffered severe injuries. Doctors tried to save him, but he died in hospital.
The Canadian joined the team in May 2026 and travelled with Ukrainian rescuers to frontline communities to help people and evacuate animals.
Steve Capus retweeted
❗️Humanitarian Mission to Oleshky: Route Demining Underway
Together with Yana Lantratova, Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian Federation, we continue preparations for a humanitarian mission to assist the civilian population of Oleshky.
This effort is being carried out through the mediation and coordination of U.S. First Lady Melania Trump (@FLOTUS), who has helped the parties reach the necessary agreement and move toward its practical implementation.
👉 Since October 27, the ceasefire has been in effect in designated areas, and the parties have been observing it. Route demining is currently underway. This is a crucial step toward ensuring the safe delivery of humanitarian aid and enabling civilians who wish to leave the city to do so.
Within the framework of the agreement reached by Yana Lantratova and me as heads of the negotiating teams, we continue working to implement the mission. Our shared goal is to ensure that people receive assistance and have the opportunity to reach safety.
We remain committed to this effort, putting the lives and safety of civilians first.
Steve Capus retweeted
Acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi had every reason to seek asylum abroad, yet he chose to return home fully aware of the danger. His courage is again drawing international attention to a regime that crushes dissent. May the focus on his case extend to the millions of Iranians whose voices he has worked to amplify through his art, but whose suffering receives no such international attention.
Jafar Panahi has been sentenced to five years and one month in prison by a Tehran court:
• The new ruling, according to his lawyer, is separate from a previous one-year prison sentence
• The court also ordered the confiscation of Panahi’s assets and imposed two-year bans on social media use and travel
variety.com/2026/film/global…
Steve Capus retweeted
From Moldova to Berlin, Russia is testing how far it can push without triggering a response. Learn how our Global Shadow War Initiative aims to get allies off the back foot. cepa.org/programs/global-sha…
Steve Capus retweeted
🛰️ 200 meters. That's the distance between a Russian military satellite and a Finnish one that feeds radar images to Ukraine -- by some estimates.
Roughly the length of a football field. A thousand kilometers up and both moving faster than a rifle bullet.
A NASA veteran called it "exceptionally close." Others went further: "very deliberate." "Provocative." "Reckless."
And it wasn't a one-off. Three other satellites from the same Russian launch were tracked moving toward that same Finnish spacecraft.
So, how close is too close? And what does a fly-by like this actually tell us about the weapons already up there? Here's what you need to know.
@Mike_Eckel @ObradovicAjla
Steve Capus retweeted
Many people didn't see that Russia was attacking our data and cyberspace over a long period of time. Then we found a way to weaken Russia's strategy, to respond to their attacks on data. We are different here. Ukraine is more technologically advanced. The Russians attacked our data centers so many times, and still we had cell service and an Internet connection. Because we are digitally decentralized and advanced. Our responses are more painful for Russia because they are more centralized. They have a different strategy. Because they have a lot of air defense assets, they are simply defending what they have. We don’t have too much air defense – we have a shortage. That is why we decentralized everything, not only data. But we always try to respond and do so only after Russian attacks against us.
From an interview with The Sun. (3/3)
Steve Capus retweeted
This graphic sums up the Ukraine war better than anything I have seen.
Russia has suffered 1.5M+ casualties while Putin has accomplished absolutely nothing, other than terrorizing a nation.
Let’s help Ukraine win, now!
Steve Capus retweeted
He survived. His owner didn’t.
Yesterday in Kyiv, rescuers pulled this little dog alive from the rubble.
He’ll wait for the woman who will never open the door again.
Steve Capus retweeted
A bipartisan group of US lawmakers have warned American banks, port authorities and fuel-industry groups against facilitating imports of Russian diesel, raising the prospect of congressional investigations and legal action over President Donald Trump’s decision to ease restrictions on Russian fuel. @ralexdc
rferl.org/a/amid-legal-uncer…
Steve Capus retweeted
Dead bodies of students lying on the ground in black body bags after Russia bombed students’ dorm in Kyiv.
Monday .
Steve Capus retweeted
“…. In just the past week, Russia has reportedly launched 2,300 drones, 48 missiles and 1,600 guided bombs against Ukraine. Hardly the actions of a country preparing for peace.”
I fear Putin is playing for time, not peace.
News of fresh Ukraine peace talks in November is welcome. Every war eventually ends at a negotiating table. But we should judge Putin by what he does, not what he says.
And the evidence isn't encouraging.
Previous rounds of talks have delivered prisoner exchanges, but no meaningful progress towards a ceasefire.
In just the past week, Russia has reportedly launched 2,300 drones, 48 missiles and 1,600 guided bombs against Ukraine. Hardly the actions of a country preparing for peace.
Now Moscow wants to discuss security arrangements for after the war. Yet it still won't commit to stopping the war itself.
I suspect Putin's calculation is straightforward: keep the West talking, keep Ukraine fighting, and hope another winter weakens European resolve.
Diplomacy matters. But negotiations must not become a substitute for maintaining pressure on Russia.
I hope November proves me wrong.
Putin does not need peace talks to stop bombing Ukraine. He can stop the attacks whenever he chooses, simply by giving the order.
Steve Capus retweeted
Děkuji všem, kteří dnes jasně vyjádřili podporu ČT a veřejnoprávním médiím.
Demonstrace v Praze, ale i v dalších částech republiky pro mě znamenají mnohem víc než jen vyjádření podpory České televizi.
Vnímám je především jako důkaz, že lidem záleží na tom, jaká média veřejné služby máme a jaká budou v budoucnu. Že jim záleží na svobodě, nezávislosti, důvěryhodných informacích i na prostoru pro kulturu, vzdělávání a tvorbu pro děti.
Jako generální ředitel České televize cítím velkou odpovědnost. Vůči veřejnosti, která naši práci sleduje a platí, i vůči všem, kteří ji každý den vytvářejí. Vaši podporu proto nevnímám jako samozřejmost, ale jako závazek.
Děkuji všem, kteří dnes přišli, všem, kteří se ozvali, i těm, kteří nám vyjadřují podporu na dálku. Velmi si toho vážím.
Hynek Chudárek
generální ředitel České televize
foto: ČTK
Steve Capus retweeted
Thinking of María Corina Machado as she returns to Venezuela, and wishing her safety and strength. Her courage and steadfast leadership in the effort to restore democracy reflect the aspirations of millions of Venezuelans.
At @NEDemocracy, we stand with Venezuelans working peacefully to restore democracy, the rule of law, and fundamental freedoms—a future in which there are no political prisoners and all can speak freely, participate without fear, and choose their leaders through free and fair elections.
Steve Capus retweeted
And that’s a wrap! Neshaminy Mall says goodbye! No stores left. This is a very sad day. So many memories at this mall.
Steve Capus retweeted
I just learned that he has no mother or father to speak up for him. And now the Islamic Republic wants to hang him.
His name is Ilya Ben Rashid.
He is a young Iranian protester He has a younger sister. Now he is facing a death sentence.
He was arrested during the January 2026 protests in Iran. A Revolutionary Court in Isfahan sentenced him to death on charges of “waging war against God” for allegedly damaging public property.
He is being held in Dastgerd Prison. Reports say he was denied a lawyer of his choice.
Imagine facing execution for demanding freedom.
We must become his voice. We must stop his execution.
Say his name. Save Ilya Ben Rashid.
#StopExecutionsInIran
Steve Capus retweeted
If I went to Russia, I would be jailed and held hostage as a POW for criticizing Russia.
I went to Ukraine as a critic and the President of Ukriane invited me to his palace and allowed me to interview him.
After I interviewed @ZelenskyyUa, Russian state media, which is controlled by Putin and the Kremlin, was calling for me to be assassinated and then they were retweeting IRGC propaganda videos that called for Islamic terrorists to shoot me in the head.
Ukraine and Russia aren’t the same.
Steve Capus retweeted
„Putin vertraut nicht vielen Menschen. Außerdem hat er geradezu obsessive Angst davor, getötet zu werden. Und wenn er nur von einer begrenzten Zahl von Menschen umgeben ist, können diese ziemlich erfolgreich die Informationen filtern, die sie ihn hören lassen wollen.“ Die Folge: „Ich glaube, er ist nach wie vor davon überzeugt, wahrscheinlich sogar aufgrund der Berichte seiner Militärführung, dass die Operation erfolgreich verläuft. (…) Ich glaube, dass er in mehrfacher Hinsicht falsch informiert wird.“ @prezidentpavel im Interview. Das ganze Gespräch überall, wo es Podcasts gibt.