Kiev-based broadcaster Radio Kontinent, an independent station, was closed by an order issued by Ukraines State Centre of Radio Frequencies on 3 March, allegedly for broadcasting without an appropriate licence. As well as producing its own principally music-based programmes, Kontinent is a rebroadcasting partner of the Ukrainian-language services of BBC World Service, Deutsche Welle, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Polonia and the Voice of America, all members of the Association for International Broadcasting.
Radio Kontinent has worked with international stations for several years, rebroadcasting news and current affairs programmes to listeners across the Ukrainian capital. Kontinent recently started to take the output of Prague-based Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) which until February 17 had been transmitted by the Radio Dovira network in Ukraine.
The closure of Radio Kontinent has drawn criticism from broadcasters. Speaking from Bonn, Deutsche Welles Director of Programmes Joachim Lenz said that the closure was further proof that the Ukrainian state does not allow freedom of press and speech.
From Prague, Tom Dine, President of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, said “We at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty are angry and outraged by this blatant act in suppressing factual news and information from a variety of high-quality journalists. Ukraine’s name and its people are badly damaged; the first freedom – free expression – is harmed.”
The BBC in London issued a statement in which it expressed its disappointment with the closure of Radio Kontinent and expressed hope the station will be given a chance to re-apply for a licence and be on air again. Many BBC listeners in Kiev have been tuning in to our programmes through Radio Kontinent, and we are sad that they will now be deprived of this option. We have enjoyed working with Radio Kontinent and hope they will be able to re-apply for the licence in the future in order to continue to enrich the choice of the Ukrainian listener with their mix of news, jazz and classical music.