Information Portal Afghanistan.Ru
(Certificate of registration at the Russian Federation’s Press Ministry - ¹77-8087)

History
It was extremely difficult to find any information about Afghanistan in the Russian segment of the Internet in 2001. There were site of Afghan orientation, of course but they were basically resources of the Soviet-Afghan war veteran organizations. Practically, there was no any information site that was devoted to Afghanistan in full. This was quite surprising on a background against dramatic events that were taken place in Afghanistan in view of the operation launched in the country by international coalition. The idea of creation of Afghanistan.ru was put forward at the time.

Targeted Audience
The site embraces first and foremost experts, journalists, mass media editors and analysts from state and business structures. It is also a unique source of information for Afghan refugees who live in the former Soviet republics. Its content is designed for the users of two levels. Firstly, the site is oriented to experts and journalists who distribute information among other media outlets, secondly, to broader social and political audience, especially Russian speaking Afghans.

Sources of Information
Among the constant authors and analysts on the site are leading experts on Afghanistan in Russia and the countries in Central Asia. The editorial board has established consistent contacts with leading information agencies in the region, including in Afghanistan and scientific research institutes in the Russian Federation and the countries in Central Asia. It has direct links with Afghan business circles and the press services of relevant departments in Afghanistan.

Refugees (Farsi.ru)
Owing to the fact that Afghan refugees are scattered across Russia and other CIS member countries traditional methods, printing materials are proved to be ineffective in delivering information to them. In view of this, decision was taken to open the Persian version of the site (Farsi.ru) in 2003. Originally, the new site was designed for Afghan refugees who live in the former Soviet republics but for some reasons it has become quite popular among Afghans who live in European countries. The Persian service of the site is most popular among Afghan graduates from Soviet higher educational establishments, the lion’s share of these now lives in the West. Currently, Farsi.ru site functions as an independent project that places articles devoted to Afghanistan and selected articles from Russian press on foreign policy of the Russian Federation towards Central Asia.

Russian View on Afghanistan (en.afghanistan.ru)
An English language Internet-journal has been launched recently on the basis of the information portal, and it provides analytical articles by Russian speaking scholars in Afghan studies. We believe that western scientists and analysts are first and foremost interest in the new project.

Omar Nessar
Editor-in-chief.