RFE/RL

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The RFE/RL head office in Prague. Photo: Jan Rambousek/RFE/RL

Azerbaijan

RFE/RL Azerbaijan faces firestorm of criticism over allegations of mismanagement

by Ismi Aghayev

•4 min read

A wave of dismissals and resignations from RFE/RL’s Azerbaijani service, along with the hiring of allegedly pro-government individuals, has led to a barrage of criticism from journalists and civil society figures. Former employees have accused a group of senior managers at Azadlig Radiosu of financial mismanagement, bullying, and running the organisation for their own benefit. Over the past two years, at least six journalists and editors have been fired with at least another three resigning in

Armenia

Radio Liberty journalist attacked by protesters in Yerevan

by Peter Liakhov

•2 min read

A journalist working for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) has been attacked by protesters while covering an opposition rally in Yerevan. Azatutyun (RFE/RL’s Armenian Service) correspondent Artak Khulian told OC Media about the attack, which took place during a Tuesday march organised by the Homeland Salvation Movement, a coalition of opposition parties calling for Nikol Pashinyan’s resignation. ‘In the evening, during our live stream, protesters started to insult not only the organi

Chechnya

RFE/RL journalist denied entry to Georgia

by OC Media

•3 min read

A journalist from RFE/RL’s Chechen-language service, Radio Marsho, was denied entry to Georgia on Thursday. Aslanbek Dadayev wrote on his Facebook page that Georgian border guards had decided his ‘stay in the country would be dangerous’. ‘Being journalist of Radio Liberty didn’t help’, he wrote. Dadayev told OC Media that he made two prior attempts to enter Georgia — two weeks ago and on 7 November — and was turned away from the Dariali border checkpoint on the Vladikavkaz–Tbilisi high

2008 August War

Backlash against Georgian wrestlers follows month of ‘Russia controversies’

by OC Media

•6 min read

Georgia’s national wrestling team made headlines on Friday after a photo was published online of the team wearing T-shirts of a North Ossetian MP to the background of the Russian flag. The backlash follows a series of controversies around the 10th anniversary of the August War, including in restaurant chain Machakhela, nightclub Bassiani, and with Radio Free Europe’s Georgian service. The photo was first published by Georgian news website On.ge on Thursday. It showed several wrestlers and t

Natia Zambakhidze

Advisor at Georgian Embassy in US appointed head of RFE/RL’s Georgian service

by OC Media

•2 min read

A senior counsellor at Georgia’s embassy to the US and former Rustavi 2 journalist has been appointed the new head of RFE/RL’s Georgian service, Radio Tavisupleba, a source in the organisation has confirmed to OC Media. Natia Zambakhidze will reportedly take up the position in Prague on 1 May. Zambakhidze will replace Radio Tavisupleba’s former head Davit Kakabadze, who was fired as in January reportedly for refusing pushes from RFE/RL’s central administration to partner with opposition-

Freedom of the Press

Calls for resignation of head of Georgian Public Broadcaster

by OC Media

•3 min read

More than 70 Georgian NGOs and prominent cultural figures have published a plan to ‘resolve the crisis’ in the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB). The 6 point plan includes a call for the resignation of the head of the GPB, Vasil Maghlaperidze. In a statement published on 9 February, signatories including the Open Society Georgia Foundation, rights group EMC, the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information, and Georgia’s Reforms Associates (GRASS) expressed concerns over the ‘deep in

Freedom of the Press

RFE/RL vice-president says partnership with Rustavi 2 ‘out of question’

by OC Media

•3 min read

The vice-president and Editor-in-Chief of RFE/RL (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) Nenad Pejić has confirmed that the outlet had been considering partnering with Rustavi 2 TV, but that they no longer are. Pejić arrived in Georgia on 8 February and spoke with a number of local NGOs, after several organisations signed an open letter calling for answers. They had been concerned over reports that RFE/RL was pressuring its Georgian service, Radio Tavisupleba, to cooperate with the Rustavi 2. The