A popular Ukrainian radio station has appealed to the head of the country's State Security Service (SBU) asking him to intervene to prevent the station's closure, RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service reports.
In an open letter to Valeriy Khoroshkovskyy made public today, the leadership of Radio Melodiya wrote that since the SBU's primary task is to protect the state's interests and national statehood and to fight corruption, he is obliged to intervene in the situation that has arisen with regard to the station.
Radio Melodiya claims a March 16 decision by the Ukrainian National Council for Television and Radio Broadcasting (NRUTR) to deprive Radio Melodiya of 12 radio frequencies and to assign them to the previously unknown Noviy Obriy (New Horizon) media company is illegal and should be investigated for possible corruption. Noviy Obriy was also granted the use of 43 other broadcasting frequencies.
Radio Melodiya urged Khoroshkovskyy to investigate the Noviy Obriy media company and determine whether its founders have financial or other ties with NRUTR members.
The letter also says that Radio Melodiya's staff wrote twice to President Viktor Yanukovych asking for help but did not receive a response.
The authors asked Khoroshkovskyy to take personal control of the investigation and make sure that Yanukovych is briefed on its progress.
Radio Melodiya, a news and music station, is an RFE/RL affiliate and carries Ukrainian Service programs. It has been available in major towns and cities since 2002.
Read more in Ukrainian here
In an open letter to Valeriy Khoroshkovskyy made public today, the leadership of Radio Melodiya wrote that since the SBU's primary task is to protect the state's interests and national statehood and to fight corruption, he is obliged to intervene in the situation that has arisen with regard to the station.
Radio Melodiya claims a March 16 decision by the Ukrainian National Council for Television and Radio Broadcasting (NRUTR) to deprive Radio Melodiya of 12 radio frequencies and to assign them to the previously unknown Noviy Obriy (New Horizon) media company is illegal and should be investigated for possible corruption. Noviy Obriy was also granted the use of 43 other broadcasting frequencies.
Radio Melodiya urged Khoroshkovskyy to investigate the Noviy Obriy media company and determine whether its founders have financial or other ties with NRUTR members.
The letter also says that Radio Melodiya's staff wrote twice to President Viktor Yanukovych asking for help but did not receive a response.
The authors asked Khoroshkovskyy to take personal control of the investigation and make sure that Yanukovych is briefed on its progress.
Radio Melodiya, a news and music station, is an RFE/RL affiliate and carries Ukrainian Service programs. It has been available in major towns and cities since 2002.
Read more in Ukrainian here