Washington Interrupts Radio Free Europe in Russia
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Satellite Service cut Off by US Agency
Table of Contents
- Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Satellite Service cut Off by US Agency
- Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Satellite Service Cut off: Your Questions Answered
- What happened to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) in Russia?
- Who ordered the deactivation of the satellite services?
- Why did the USAGM deactivate the satellite services?
- What is Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)?
- What is the role of the USAGM?
- What programming is affected by this decision?
- What is the significance of this cut-off?
- Was there a funding dispute involved?
- What actions did RFE/RL take regarding the funding freeze?
- What are the potential consequences of USAGM’s actions?
- Summary of Key Events
PRAGUE – Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported Thursday that the U.S. government has terminated satellite transmission of its Russian-language programming within Russia.
Stephen Capus,managing director of RFE/RL,stated that the U.S. agency for global Media (USAGM) deactivated the satellite services. RFE/RL, established during the Cold War to provide an choice to Soviet propaganda, is funded by the United States.
funding Dispute Precedes Service Termination
The move follows disagreements between RFE/RL and the current U.S. governance regarding funding. The Trump administration reportedly moved to freeze RFE/RL’s funding in mid-March as part of a broader effort to reduce the size of the federal government.
RFE/RL challenged the funding freeze in court and initially secured a temporary injunction. however,according to RFE/RL,USAGM has yet to release the funds.
Impact on Russian-Language Programming
“We arrived at work today and we saw that the satellite services that reach Russia had been deactivated by USAGM,” Capus told AFP.
The decision impacts the 24-hour Russian-language channel “Current Time,” which broadcasts to Russia, Ukraine, Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and other regions.
Capus added, “USAGM has notified RFE/RL that the Time Time to Europe satellite dissemination contracts have been terminated.”
USAGM did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Satellite Service Cut off: Your Questions Answered
What happened to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) in Russia?
According to a report from RFE/RL, the U.S. government has terminated its satellite transmission of Russian-language programming within Russia. This action was taken by the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM).
Who ordered the deactivation of the satellite services?
The deactivation of satellite services was ordered by the USAGM, as confirmed by Stephen Capus, managing director of RFE/RL.
Why did the USAGM deactivate the satellite services?
The provided article focuses on the action and does not explicitly state the reason for the deactivation of the satellite service.
What is Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)?
Established during the Cold War, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) was created to provide an choice to Soviet propaganda. It is funded by the United States.
What is the role of the USAGM?
The U.S. agency for Global Media (USAGM) is the U.S. agency responsible for overseeing international broadcasting, including RFE/RL.
What programming is affected by this decision?
The 24-hour Russian-language channel “Current Time” is directly impacted. This channel broadcasts to Russia, Ukraine, Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and other regions.
What is the significance of this cut-off?
The termination of satellite transmission significantly limits Russian audiences’ access to autonomous news and information from RFE/RL, particularly impacting the “Current Time” channel. This limits the Russian public’s access to information that is not controlled by their government.
Was there a funding dispute involved?
Yes, the article explicitly states that the US had a funding dispute wiht RFE/RL. Specifically, disagreements existed between RFE/RL and the U.S. governance regarding funding. The Trump administration reportedly moved to freeze RFE/RL’s funding in mid-March as part of a broader effort to reduce the size of the federal government.
What actions did RFE/RL take regarding the funding freeze?
RFE/RL challenged the funding freeze in court and initially secured a temporary injunction. However, according to RFE/RL, USAGM has yet to release the funds.
What are the potential consequences of USAGM’s actions?
The discontinuation of satellite services has the potential to significantly limit the reach and impact of RFE/RL’s Russian-language programming within Russia. This limits access to non-government-controlled news for the russian population.
Summary of Key Events
Here’s a fast overview:
- Action: USAGM deactivated satellite transmission of RFE/RL’s russian-language programming.
- Impact: “Current time” channel’s reach within Russia is restricted.
- Context: This follows a funding dispute and a reported funding freeze by the Trump administration.
- Response: RFE/RL challenged the funding freeze.