Radio Free Europe not to broadcast in Chechen language yet(Prague Watchdog) – Today, on February 28 Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) planned to launch its North Caucasus broadcasting service here in Prague but at the request of the Broadcasting Board of Governors in Washington the broadcasting was put on hold indefinitely, allegedly due to concerns about the planned broadcast raised by George Bush's administration.
The North Caucasus service should be broadcast via shortwave in four languages: Avar, Chechen, Cherkes, and Russian. Daily broadcasting will last about two hours and will be divided into 20-minute news digests in each of the four languages. The North Caucasus service is intended for Caucasian listeners living in the North Caucasus as well as elsewhere in the Russian Federation or abroad.
Andrei Babitski, the Radio Liberty´s Russian service correspondent, who was kidnapped an the beginning of the year 2000 allegedly by the Russian secret service and released only after massive protests coming from abroad and after diplomatic interventions, told Prague Watchdog: ”We expect some pressure from the Russian government, which is a routine practice.”
The North Caucasus service does not plan to establish their bureau in the Chechen capital Grozny in any near future. The news will be provided by two free-lance correspondents for now. It is still unclear when the broadcasting will be launched. The decision has to be made by the Washington Broadcasting Board of Governors.
The Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is a private, international communications service to Eastern and Southeastern Europe, Russia, the Caucasus, Central Asia and the Middle East funded by the US Congress. RFE/RL currently has its offices in 28 countries of Central and Eastern Europe and in the former Soviet republics. The RFE/RL aims at disseminating independent information and views as well as at the promotion of democratic values and institutions.
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