Radio Ozodlik goes off the air: financial crisis and legal disputes continue

The Global Media Agency (USAGM), which implements America's international media policy, has recently made an important decision. This agency is the main structure that finances the US information policy aimed at foreign audiences. It is this agency that has decided not to renew the contract for the Russian service of Radio Liberty's satellite broadcasts.

As a result, Radio Liberty's 24-hour broadcasts via the Hotbird 13G satellite have been discontinued. This was unexpected news for many listeners and fans. Now, Radio Liberty's programs and news can be watched mainly online - on the official website Svoboda.org or on the "Radio Liberty Live" YouTube channel. This change has caused great difficulties, especially for those who regularly listen to the broadcast via satellite.

Currently, a serious lawsuit is underway in the Federal District Court in Washington over the funding of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. This media corporation is demanding the receipt of approximately $62 million allocated by the US Congress as part of the 2025 fiscal budget. This issue is being widely discussed in the media and on social networks.

It should be recalled that at the end of May, the court officially ordered the USAGM agency to transfer the funds allocated for May to Radio Liberty. This was the third successful lawsuit filed against USAGM. In fact, Radio Liberty is one of the international media outlets that plays an important role in its audience and the democratic information space. Its continued existence on the air is extremely important for freedom of information and the audience's need for real news.

In conclusion, we can say that even in the conditions of financial crises and legal disputes, Radio Liberty continues its mission. These changes in the modern information field can be a significant test for society and its listeners. However, even in such situations, it once again shows that independent sources of information are very important for society.