RFE/RL funding cuts would please Moscow and Minsk – CEO

March 16, Pozirk. “The Iranian Ayatollahs, Chinese communist leaders, and autocrats in Moscow and Minsk would celebrate” if the US stops funding the international Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, its president and CEO Stephen Capus said.
The statement comes after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to cut several federal agencies, including the US Agency for Global Media, which supervises RFE/RL.
According to RFE/RL‘s Belarus Service, Capus said canceling financial support would be a “massive gift to America’s enemies.”
“Handing our adversaries a win would make them stronger and America weaker,” he stated.
“We’ve benefitted from strong bipartisan support throughout RFE/RL‘s storied history. Without us, the nearly 50 million people in closed societies who depend on us for accurate news and information each week won’t have access to the truth about America and the world,” Capus said.
The Americans launched RFE in 1950 to broadcast independent information to Soviet satellite states and RL in 1953 to cover the Soviet Union.
The Belarusian Service, known locally as Radyjo Svaboda, went live in 1954.
Because of the 2020 unrest, the Belarusian government has deemed it an extremist group and persecuted some of its journalists.
US considers travel ban on Belarusians, others – report
- EconomyLending to economy rises 14 percent since January – HałoŭčankaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsKGB brands eight regime critics as terroristsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja's team prioritizing Belarusians affected by Lithuanian border closureThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityIrregular crossings spike after Warsaw announces border reopening planThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsOpposition leader dismisses calls for talks with ŁukašenkaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, Politics, SecurityLithuania’s PM Ruginenė to discuss Belarus border closure with Poland’s TuskThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyOpposition politician advocates for exiled Belarusians’ rights at CoE eventThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, Politics, SecurityBiełavija CEO hopes for US spare parts supplies after sanctions easingThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyCentral bank's head expects inflation at 6 percent by year's endThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja: Democracy has tools to stop dictators and warsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- EconomyBelarus reports 50 percent rise in migrant workers in a yearThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, Politics, Security
- Politics, SecurityBelarus' KGB to check terrorism preparedness in central districtThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBelarusian, Kazakh leaders discuss security summit by phoneThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Politics, SocietyReprisals: Homiel teacher sentenced on extremism chargesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBelarus FM sets out Minsk's conditions for restoring ties with EUThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsSupreme Court brands Lithuanian organization as extremist groupThe material is available only to POZIRK+


