Russian special services are using jamming equipment to block Georgian radio channels in the Shida Kartli region of Georgia, according to the information obtained by The Independent Association of Georgian Journalists (IAGJ). Zviad Pochkhua , Head of the association said the first signals were received from the local inhabitants of Gori region where the majority of internally displaced persons (IDPs) are concentrated. They said radio signals are jammed time to time.
“We travelled through Gori region to be convinced of that news. Sounds of Georgian radio channels disappeared as we crossed the Shida Kartli Region, places still controlled by Georgian authorities. All you can receive on FM is the Russian military channel, broadcasting news and patriotic songs”.
Zviad Pochkhua condemned that fact and said international involvement is needed to stop jamming. “Shida Kartli region is mainly populated by Georgians. There are thousands of IDPs from conflict zone for whom radio is the main source of information”, IAGJ said.
Georgian authorities have been blocking Russian news channels Rossiya, Channel One, and NTV, as well as Web sites ending in “.ru” since 9 August 2008. Russian news sites were accessible only via proxy servers, and Russian news channels have been blocked since last week due to “biased reporting and propaganda.”
South Ossetia was the focus of war between Russia and Georgia in 2008. It declared independence from Georgia and was recognised by Russia and Nicaragua.
(Source: The Financial)
Andy Sennitt comments: From the description, if true, it appears that the “jamming” is achieved by broadcasting unmodulated signals on the same frequencies as the Georgian transmitters.
on Jun 11th, 2009 at 23:39
This description needs no jamming for being true. The “sound of a radio channel” on FM “disappears” when one is simply leaving the area covered by its transmitters. And this is a mountainous area with a rather scanty transmitter network, if the available frequency lists are comprehensive. Under these circumstances I do not buy this story without any evidence being provided.
on Jun 13th, 2009 at 23:16
Jamming local Georgian radio doesn’t make much sense. May/June are known for long-distance FM propagation, though. That might be the case.
The radio channel of the Russian military, Radio Zvezda, carries mostly Russian pop-music, “not patriotic songs.”