Tweet
U.S.-FUNDED RADIO SAYS IT IS OFF THE AIR IN ARMENIA
The Associated Press
International Herald Tribune
March 4 2008
France
PRAGUE, Czech Republic: The U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
was off the air in Armenia and its Web site blocked by authorities as
part of a state of emergency decree in the country, the broadcaster
said Tuesday.
Armenian President Robert Kocharian declared a 20-day state of
emergency Saturday night following a day of clashes between government
forces and demonstrators protesting alleged fraud in the Feb. 19
presidential election.
The clashes have killed eight people and injured more than 100.
The radio network said in a statement its two Armenian affiliates
took its program off the air to comply with the emergency decree
that allows media to use only government sanctioned news. It said
that its programming was replaced by music.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty said it is the only Armenian language
foreign radio station in the country.
It said its Armenian language Web site has been blocked by the local
authorities and that it has been adding Web site domains to get around
the blockage.
The radio also said its driver was beaten by police officers in the
capital, Yerevan, on Saturday while the correspondent he was working
with managed to escape. Another journalist for the broadcaster was
threatened by government forces in the town of Gumri, it said.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is a private, nonprofit corporation
that receives funding from the U.S. government. It was established
in 1949 to spread pro-Western news and promote democratic values and
institutions in countries behind the Iron Curtain.
The station moved its headquarters to Prague from Munich, Germany,
in 1995, after the collapse of communism.
It broadcasts in 28 languages to some 20 countries, including Iran
and Iraq since 1998, and Afghanistan since 2002.
The Associated Press
International Herald Tribune
March 4 2008
France
PRAGUE, Czech Republic: The U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
was off the air in Armenia and its Web site blocked by authorities as
part of a state of emergency decree in the country, the broadcaster
said Tuesday.
Armenian President Robert Kocharian declared a 20-day state of
emergency Saturday night following a day of clashes between government
forces and demonstrators protesting alleged fraud in the Feb. 19
presidential election.
The clashes have killed eight people and injured more than 100.
The radio network said in a statement its two Armenian affiliates
took its program off the air to comply with the emergency decree
that allows media to use only government sanctioned news. It said
that its programming was replaced by music.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty said it is the only Armenian language
foreign radio station in the country.
It said its Armenian language Web site has been blocked by the local
authorities and that it has been adding Web site domains to get around
the blockage.
The radio also said its driver was beaten by police officers in the
capital, Yerevan, on Saturday while the correspondent he was working
with managed to escape. Another journalist for the broadcaster was
threatened by government forces in the town of Gumri, it said.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is a private, nonprofit corporation
that receives funding from the U.S. government. It was established
in 1949 to spread pro-Western news and promote democratic values and
institutions in countries behind the Iron Curtain.
The station moved its headquarters to Prague from Munich, Germany,
in 1995, after the collapse of communism.
It broadcasts in 28 languages to some 20 countries, including Iran
and Iraq since 1998, and Afghanistan since 2002.