The BBC hopes to resume FM radio broadcasts in Kyrgyzstan “as soon as possible” after they were stopped by the ex-Soviet republic’s state broadcaster, it said today. Kyrgyzstan’s state television and radio corporation (NTRK) announced yesterday that it was stopping broadcasts of BBC and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty programmes due to “the immense debt” it was said was owed to it.
“We have been informed that BBC Kyrgyz and BBC Russian programmes are no longer available through our FM rebroadcasting partners,” said a BBC statement. ”We are making inquiries into the situation and will endeavour to reinstate our services to listeners as soon as possible,” it added, noting that BBC Kyrgyz and BBC Russian programmes can still be heard on shortwave.
In addition the programmes can be heard online via the websites at bbcrussian.com and bbckyrgyz.com, it said. Kyrgyz authorities tried to stop the BBC and RFE/RL broadcasts in late 2004 and early 2005, before the popular revolt that ousted then-president Askar Akayev from power in March 2005.
(Source: AFP)
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