BBG Watch Media
A Digital Journal op-ed notes that Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is showing courage and practices good journalism in response to threats from Putin propaganda and disinformation.
Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) is one of America’s best investments in peaceful backing of freedom abroad, which brings security at home. Funded by U.S. taxpayers through the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), RFE/RL “serves as a ‘surrogate’ free press in 21 countries where the free flow of information is either banned by government authorities or not fully developed.” One of these countries is Russia under the repressive rule of President Vladimir Putin.
RFE/RL management ought to be congratulated for posting online in Russian, English and in other languages an important commentary by a former Soviet dissident and prominent Russian human rights activist Sergei Kovalyov.
In “Pride Versus Prejudice In The West,” Mr. Kovalyov wrote:
“Throughout its history, my country — the Soviet Union — conducted cruel and arbitrary mass purges; participated in international political terrorism; fostered new totalitarian regimes; committed aggression; and violated fundamental principles of law. Russia has returned to that behavior.”
READ MORE: Op-Ed: Kudos to RFE/RL, Ted Lipien, Digital Journal, July 31, 2015
Ted Lipien is one of co-founders and supporters of BBG Watch.