The Voice of America radio station* is silent, more than 1.3 thousand of its employees have been sent on administrative leave. This was stated by the director of the radio station Michael Abramowitz.
"I am deeply saddened that for the first time in 83 years, the famous Voice of America has fallen silent," he wrote on the LinkedIn social network (blocked in Russia).
"This morning I learned that almost the entire staff of Voice of America — more than 1,300 journalists, producers and support staff — has been placed on administrative leave. Just like me," Abramovits said, according to TASS.
Earlier, ABC News reported that all full-time employees of the Voice of America radio station* received a notification of transfer to paid administrative leave.
As reported, US President Donald Trump signed a decree on Friday significantly reducing the scale of the activities of the US government Agency for Global Media. It is responsible for foreign policy propaganda and coordinates the activities of such state-funded US radio stations as the foreign media "Voice of America"* and "Freedom/ Free Europe" recognized in the Russian Federation, as well as their Internet divisions. Officially, the agency is referred to as an independent agency of the US government. Until 2018, it was called the Broadcasting Council.
*An organization performing the functions of a foreign agent
SCMP: China is changing policy on the Arctic due to cooperation between the United States and Russia
The Kremlin may send Putin's double to negotiations on Ukraine — RLI
Negotiations have reached a discussion of the status of Ukraine in the future — Waltz
Moscow corrects relations with unfriendly countries — Russian Ambassador
The suspect in the helmet: the trial of the neo-Nazi killer Ganul has begun*