The Committee for U.S. International Broadcasting (CUSIB – cusib.org) has issued the following statement.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CUSIB - Supporting journalism for media freedom and human rights

January 14, 2014

CUSIB Statement on Denial of Visa by Russia to David Satter

Committee for U.S. International Broadcasting (CUSIB) is appalled by the Russian Government’s denial of visa to distinguished American journalist and advisor to Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) David Satter.

We share RFE/RL President Kevin Klose’s expressions of concern. We hope Moscow will reconsider its unfortunate decision. Any further Russian Government’s actions against any RFE/RL journalists will be met with vigorous protests from all media freedom organizations, including ours, CUSIB Executive Director Ann Noonan and CUSIB co-founder Ted Lipien said in a statement.

The Committee for U.S. International Broadcasting (CUSIB) is a nonpartisan, nongovernmental organization working to strengthen free flow of uncensored news from the United States to countries with restricted and developing media environments. CUSIB supports journalism in defense of media freedom and human rights by the Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Asia (RFA), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Radio and TV Marti, Radio Sawa, Alhurra TV and other U.S. taxpayer-funded media programs for international audiences produced by the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG). We are working to make these programs more effective and better managed. CUSIB also advocates for better working conditions for broadcasters and other media professionals delivering news to countries without media freedom and defends their journalistic independence.

For further information, please contact:

Ann Noonan, co-founder and Executive Director
Tel. 646-251-6069

Ted Lipien, co-founder
Tel. 415-793-1642