Radio Liberty ends Russia broadcasts

Complying with new legislation in Russia, Radio Liberty will stop broadcasting in the country after nearly 60 years.

As of November10, licences held by companies who are at least 48 percent foreign-owned is forbidden.

Liberty, known locally as Radio Svoboda, receives funding from US Congress and was set up to cater for countries where there are restrictions on information.

The station was founded during the Cold War.

“There are a lot of people who feel a sense of nostalgia. Among them are Radio Liberty listeners. There are people who were used to all sorts of disruptions, like the jamming of the radio or difficulties with the medium wave. They are used to listening to Radio Liberty,” said former Radio Liberty chairman Savik Shuster/

“The aim is to inform people, because there’s no free access to information, there’s no freedom of speech. Everything is controlled by the Kremlin. Therefore people need a different source of information. That is the role and purpose of the station – freedom,” he added.

Radio Liberty will now concentrate on digital platforms, causing job losses for more than 40 people and, according to some, muffling criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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