USA requests that Ukraine abrogate ban on radio continent broadcasting

The U.S. State Department called the closing of an independent Radio Continent radio station in Ukraine and termination of the radio station Liberty/Free Europe broadcast re-transmission an attack on democracy.

US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher expressed "deep concern over the attempts of the Ukrainian authorities to restrict access of the public to independent news and information." We call on the Ukrainian leadership to immediately resume Radio Continent broadcasting and not to create obstacles for the re-transmission of international radio programs in Ukraine, Mr. Boucher stressed.

Radio Continent stopped broadcasting on Wednesday, March 3. It re-transmitted the broadcasts of the Ukrainian BBC service, Voice of America, Deutsche Welle and Radio Polonia.