When we talk about the dangers a small media project can encounter, we have to determine several main types of threats. Before we start, it is important to say that even a full-body legal armor doesn't guaranty your collective's security, because in Russia, the law is servile and denunciatory.

In Russia, there are many laws which were initially designed to protect minorities, prevent hate speech against certain social groups and to shield the vulnerable from discrimination. But in reality, these laws are misused such that any journalist can become subject to administrative or a criminal prosecution.

What can protect your collective? First, the format of your content. A printed text can be considered extremist in accordance with Russian legal practice, but the author cannot be accused of having had intent. Second, you have to pay attention to the format of your publications. For example, moloko plus doesn't publish opinion pieces. As a result, if our content is examined by law enforcement, it is harder to interpret it as a call to illegal action. You should also ensure the safety of your authors. For example, they may want to publish under pseudonyms. This will make them harder or impossible to identify.

Projects like moloko plus are not considered businesses, legally speaking. If you are paying authors, but these fees aren't regular and are not their stable income, prosecution, most likely, won't be able to prove you guilty in any economic crime.