**US Court Orders Release of $12 Million in Funding for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty**
In a significant victory for media freedom, a US court of appeals has ruled that the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) must release $12 million in funding previously approved by Congress for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). This decision comes after months of legal battles and a freeze on funds imposed by the Trump administration.
**Background**
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, a media organization established during the Cold War to challenge Soviet influence, operates as an independent media corporation funded by US congressional appropriations through USAGM. The agency was subjected to a funding cut by President Donald Trump’s executive order in March, which also affected seven other government agencies.
**The Court Ruling**
On April 29, US District Judge Royce Lamberth ruled in favor of RFE/RL, mandating the immediate release of funds. However, USAGM withheld the money, prompting the media organization to return to court. The lower court’s order was briefly suspended by a panel of appellate judges just hours before the appeals court hearing. The May 7 decision reinstates the lower court’s order, forcing USAGM to release the $12 million.
**Context**
The funding freeze has been widely criticized as an attempt to silence RFE/RL’s critical coverage of authoritarian governments and human rights abuses in Eastern Europe and Russia. The media organization’s broadcasts have long been a target of Kremlin ire, providing critical reporting on issues such as Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine.
**Commentary**
“This ruling is a significant victory for media freedom and a slap in the face to those who sought to silence RFE/RL,” said Tim Zadorozhnyy, news editor at The Kyiv Independent. “As we’ve seen with Trump’s diplomatic outreach to Moscow, there have been attempts to curtail independent reporting on issues that matter most to the people of Eastern Europe and Russia.”
**What’s Next?**
USAGM can still appeal to the US Supreme Court, but for now, the court order stands. This decision is a crucial step towards ensuring that RFE/RL continues to provide critical coverage of events in Eastern Europe and beyond.
Read More @ kyivindependent.com
