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Kyrgyzstan May Stop Rebroadcasting Russian TV


BISHKEK -- Kyrgyzstan's government says it may cease rebroadcasting programs of Russian public television channel ORTK as of April 1.

Kyrgyz Finance Ministry spokesman Nazar Malaev told RFE/RL on March 28 that investigations were under way to find out the exact volume of money spent by state-controlled Kyrgyztelecom to retransmit ORTK's programs in the country.

On March 27, Kyrgyz lawmakers called for investigations of allegations that Kyrgyztelecom spent five times more money on the retransmission than had been initially scheduled in the last three years.

The parliament deputies say ORTK itself has to cover the cost of its programs' rebroadcast.

The Russian Embassy in Bishkek stated on March 28 that "many Kyrgyz citizens are concerned over the plans" to halt the retransmission of ORTK's programs.

With reporting by Interfax

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

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