International Radio Serbia – or Radio Yugoslavia – has been closed down by the Serbian government. The move was first announced in April when the government published its media strategy and new law on public information which was adopted in 2014 and brought about the end of state ownership of the media or its funding.
During protests in April, a letter from the station’s staff was handed to Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic which said: “Although the new media laws were adopted in 2014, we are certain there is a way for Radio Yugoslavia – International Radio Serbia to survive, being the only short wave radio station in the country, and whose broadcasts are reaching all continents. There is not a lot of us – less than a hundred – and before you solve our fate, check to see whether Germany has renounced on Deutsche Welle, Great Britain on BBC, the USA on the Voice of America, China on the China International, or Russia on the Voice of Russia. The situation is similar in Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania and Albania. Those are all radio stations financed form the state budget as their world service. Please consider those options and let someone speak to us before passing the decision to shut down the program in 11 languages, which offers exquisite possibilities for representing Serbia around the world. We sincerely believe you will find the way to hear our position and help us.”
The broadcaster, that had been on the air since the 1930s, had 12 language services and employed 96 staff, all of whom have lost their jobs according to reports coming out of Belgrade.
A statement on the radio station’s website says: “The Serbian government, however, believes that the closing down of Radio Yugoslavia – International Radio Serbia – is a justified move. Regardless of the fact that the state of Serbia is in an economic crisis, that each saved penny is precious, that many citizens have been rendered jobless, that new work positions should be opened, it has become unclear to the very end why the only state short-wave station has suddenly become too expensive after 80 years. We are, however, certain, that Serbian citizens, taxpayers, who have financed us for all these years, would have decided differently had they been asked to.”