Prague (dpa-AFX)-In the dispute over existential medium cuts, the US foreigner Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty sues his mother authority Usagm. A spokesman said that the complaint against the US Authority for Global Media (US Agency for Global Media) was submitted to a federal court in the capital Washington. The broadcaster argues that the withholding of the money is illegal because they were approved by the US Congress. The congress is the parliament in the USA.
Sender sees violation of US constitution
The broadcaster based in Prague spoke of a violation of the US constitution and called for an injunction. The lawsuit is also specifically directed against the new responsible people at Usagm used by US President Donald Trump. “We believe that the right is on our side,” emphasized RFE/RL President Stephen Capus. “Now is not the time to clear the field and to leave the propaganda and censorship of America’s opponents,” he added.
In the Funkhaus in Prague, TV and radio programs are produced in Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian and in many other languages that are also spread online. The critical broadcaster has long been a thorn in the side of the Russian leadership. Moscow declared him an “undesirable organization” in February 2024. According to its own statements, RFE/RL reaches almost 50 million people in 23 countries every week.
Trump had ordered cuts
A Czech initiative, which has also joined Germany, wants to search for European financing options to prevent a closure. US President Donald Trump ordered massive cuts in the parent company of the broadcaster, the US Authority for Global Media (USAGM). Usagm monitors all state -funded broadcasting programs of the United States that are not subject to the military. RFE/RL then announced that Usagm has terminated the existing financial aid agreement./Hei/dp/nas