America's voice and Radio Swoboda, the history of the uprising, comments after Donald Trump's decision to suspend the transmission

On May 1, 1951, at 11 am, the legendary Czech journalist Ferdinand Peroutka announced in front of the editorial microphone in Munich: “Here Radio Free Europe!”. It was the beginning of the station's activity, the mission of which was the resurrection of hope for freedom in the countries behind the Iron Curtain.

The expansion of Soviet influence in Eastern Europe after World War II prompted Washington to take action to inspire the societies of the Eastern Bloc to fight communism. Thousands of refugees from Eastern Europe stayed in the west, and many of them had journalistic experience. It was largely they created a radio that provided information and analyzes to their countrymen every day.

The voice of America and Radio Free Europe, standing on the side of the pro -democratic opposition, described the most important social speeches against communism: from mass protests of workers in the GDR in 1953, through Poznań June in 1954 and the Hungarian revolution in 1956, to the protests in 1989, which finally laid an end to the communist rule.

On their antennas, the lies of the communist authorities, the crimes of the USSR were also revealed and informed about what life in the West looks like.

Radio freedom quickly became the main channel of the Samizdat message, literature published illegally in the USSR and other communist countries. Aleksandra Sołżenicyn's “Archipelago Gulag” was read on her antenna, who described the criminal activities of the communist system in the Soviet Union.

After the collapse of the USSR in 1991, it was suggested that the mission of the station was completed and its financing should be suspended. However, Washington continued to direct funds to the station, considering that it is necessary to continue spreading libertarian values, especially in countries where democratic institutions are at an early stage of development.

Radio Free Europe employs approx. 2,000 employees, its budget reaches $ 140 million, and the programs are broadcast in 27 languages ​​for 47 million listeners a week. The headquarters of the station is located in Czech Prague, where it was moved from Munich in 1993 at the invitation of the anti -communist leader Vaclav Havl. America's voice broadcast in 49 languages ​​and reached 361 million people a week.

RFE – just like the sister radio station, Free Asia – conducted investigations on corruption, abuse and war crimes in Russiaor the persecution of Utgurów in Chinaand also informed about political and economic events in countries where there were a regression of democracy such as Georgia. RFE played a huge role in reporting protests from 2020 against the regime of the Belarusian leader Alaxander Lukashenko.

On Saturday, pursuant to the ordinance of President Trump, after more than 75 years of operation, public financing of radio and television stations such as the voice of America and Radio Free Europe was suspended. All journalists of the voice of America were sent for a forced vacation. Radio Free Europe was informed about the completion of financing by the Global Media Agency USA.

Earlier, the president of Radio Free Europa Steve Capus warned that the suspension of the station financing would be in favor of “America's enemies”. He added that the authorities IranChina, Russia and Belarus They would “celebrate” because of the sender's closing after 75 years. – Without us, almost 50 million people in closed societies, to whom we provide independent messages and information each week, will not have access to the truth about America and the world – emphasized Steve Capus.

According to the deputy head of the Independent Belarusian Association of Journalists (Baż) Barysa Harecki, the end of American financing of Radio Swoboda is an epoch -making event, because for several decades it was an effective source of free information.

Radio Free Europe/Radio freedom and voice of America for decades “provided uncensored, free information to the countries of the former USSR” – he emphasized. Several generations grew up on these media. – It was from here in 1986 that people learned the truth about (nuclear disaster) in Chernobyl. Hence, people learned and still learn about important economic and political events – said Harecki.

He reminded that employees of Radio Swaboda (the Belarusian editorial office) were detained during the reporting of the 2020 events in Belarus, when there were mass protests in the country in connection with the fake presidential elections.

According to him, this showed that “the Belarusian authorities were afraid of Radio Freedom.” – We would miss the day if we were to mention all the repression of Radio Swoboda employees during the rule of Łukaszenka (Alaxandra) – said the deputy head of the baż authorities.