The Czech government has called for discussions with European partners to “preserve” Radio Free Europe, headquartered in Prague, following a suspension of its staff by the American administration.
“It is in our interest not to see totalitarian regimes flourish around us,” stated Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky in a televised debate about the radio’s role for those living under oppression.
“We must discuss measures to preserve this institution and Europe’s willingness in this regard,” he added.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), funded by the US Congress, was established in 1950 during the Cold War to broadcast to the communist bloc. Four decades later, it contributed to the fall of totalitarian regimes in Central and Eastern Europe.
Originally based in Munich, the radio relocated to Prague in 1995. Today, it broadcasts in 27 languages to 23 countries, many of which severely restrict media freedom, with a network of approximately 1,700 journalists, both permanent and freelance, and a weekly audience of nearly 50 million people.
“If it shuts down, rebuilding it will not be easy,” warned the minister.
Hundreds of employees from Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Asia, Radio Free Europe, and other US-funded organisations received emails this weekend informing them that they were barred from accessing their offices.
According to the White House, these measures ensure that “taxpayers no longer fund radical propaganda,” a move heavily criticized by press freedom organisations.
“From Belarus to Iran, Russia to Afghanistan, Radio Free Europe and Voice of America remain among the few sources of free information,” Lipavsky reminded on Saturday via X. He noted that silencing these outlets would be a loss for their audiences and for everyone who believes in democracy.
“This is a huge gift to America’s enemies,” lamented RFE/RL President Stephen Capus.
