U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) is shutting down in Hungary (November 21), it said, ending a media service that a U.S. official said had damaged President Donald Trump's foreign policy in a key ally.
Breakdown
- Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is being shut down in Hungary from midnight after losing US government funding.
- The closure follows alignment between President Trump and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, with RFERL accused of undermining US foreign policy. 6s
- Funding for RFERL's Hungarian service, Szabad Europa, was ended by the US Agency for Global Media, citing opposition to Orban. 38s
- RFERL's Hungarian service was relaunched in 2020 due to concerns over media diversity, but critics accuse Orban of tightening media control since 2010. 1m 4s
- Reporters Without Borders called the shutdown a serious blow to Hungarians' right to information ahead of elections. 1m 28s