November 10th Radio Liberty in the Russian federation signed off. The station has been on air broadcasting US and international news/propaganda to the region for 60 years. The network was founded in 1953 ostensibly to provide coverage in countries with limited press freedoms. Their status as a CIA funded venture somewhat undermine that image. In the beginning the Soviets made efforts to jam their broadcasts.
Their closure comes in the wake of a new Russian law that makes it illegal for radio stations to operate in Russia with greater than a 48 percent foreign ownership stake. Rather than allowing a nationalist buy-in Radio Liberty has opted to refocus on digital platforms. Their 200,000+ Russian listeners may or may not move with them.
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