Archive · 21 Nov 2025
U.S.-Funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Shutting Down in Hungary
The U.S.-funded news service Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) is closing its operations in Hungary.
This is happening because a U.S. official said their news was hurting President Trump's friend, the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
Orban has been making it hard for other news services to work in Hungary, and people are worried about what this means for the upcoming election.
RFE/RL to close operations in Hungary on Friday
Decision follows criticism from U.S. official Kari Lake
RFE/RL's Hungarian service relaunched in 2020 due to declining media diversity
Hungarian PM Viktor Orban accused of tightening media control
Orban trails opposition party in polls ahead of 2024 election
- Who
- U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)
- What
- Shutting down operations in Hungary
- When
- On Friday
- Where
- In Hungary
- Why
- Due to criticism from a U.S. official and concerns about media freedom in Hungary
Pro-Media Freedom
Pro-Orban
Media Freedom
Pro-Media Freedom
RFE/RL's closure is a blow to Hungarians' right to information and media freedom.
Pro-Orban
RFE/RL's programming was undermining President Trump's foreign policy in Hungary.
- Founding Year
- 1950
- Audience Reach
- Millions in eastern Europe, including Russia and Ukraine, as well as central Asia and the Middle East
- Hungarian Service Launch
- 2020
- Hungary's Transition to Democracy
- 1989
- Upcoming Election in Hungary
- 2024