Hungary is being sued for political interference in awarding radio licenses, renewing doubts over press freedoms in the nation as the government tries to convince the European Union that it respects media independence.
The 2009 tender for the frequencies of radio stations Slager and Danubius were “scandalously flawed” and amounted to the “expropriation” of investments, according to court papers filed separately by Indianapolis, Indiana-based Emmis International Holding B.V., a unit of Emmis Communications Corporation (EMMS), and Bermuda-registered venture capital fund Accession Mezzanine Capital LP (PEF3495), which owned the stations.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who took office in 2010, has come under international criticism for setting up a media regulator exclusively led by ruling party appointees with wide-ranging powers that European Commissioner Neelie Kroes has said may spawn self-censorship. Aid talks with the EU and the International Monetary Fund have been halted over a dispute with the 27-member bloc over a series of laws passed.
For more: Hungary Sued for Political Interference in Radio Frequency Bids - Bloomberg
No comments:
Post a Comment