Czech Radio Expresses Unwavering Support for Ukraine
In response to last week’s shocking invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, Director General of Czech Radio René Zavoral publically expressed Czech Radio’s support for Ukraine and its people in both an open letter to the National Broadcasting Company of Ukraine, as well as an open letter to Czech Radio employees. The latter is available in English translation below.
Thursday, February 24, 2022
Dear colleagues,
I am writing to let you know that Czech Radio will support Ukraine and its people by symbolically flying both the Czech and the Ukraine state flags outside the two Czech Radio entrances on Vinohradská and Římská streets. This is not a political act, but rather an act of solidarity with a nation that is currently facing occupation, as we ourselves did in 1968. It is an expression of support and sympathy for all Ukrainians, including those already living in the Czech Republic who, along with the rest of the world, are watching with worry and outrage as their home country is being attacked by an aggressor intent to kill, destroy and trample European democratic values.
On the very day of the invasion, I declared on behalf of Czech Radio our support for the National Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine (UA:PBC) and for all its employees and coworkers. The following day, on February 25th, Czech Radio joined its Ukrainian colleagues in petitioning the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to suspend the membership of the pro-Kremlin media stations Channel One Russia and Rossijskoe Teleradio, neither of which honor the values of public service media and both of which are broadcasting distorted and untruthful information about the war in Ukraine.
I am closely listening to Czech Radio reporting on the invasion of Ukraine and I am pleased by the commendable work of our reporters and staffers. We can all be proud of this work. I would like to thank all Czech Radio workers who are contributing to this important coverage and giving their all to providing the public with truthful and objective information about the Russian Federation’s unprecedented act of aggression, which will undoubtedly have far-reaching consequences for Europe as we know it. Let me also give special thanks to all those reporting firsthand from the conflict zone.
Esteemed colleagues – I hope and trust that the attack on Ukraine will unite the free world in a swift and strong reaction.
René Zavoral
Director General of Czech Radio