French Radio Subsidiary Promotes Russian Propaganda in Occupied Ukraine
The independent Russian news site Insider.ru published an article on Monday, March 3, reported how the Russian subsidiary of the global French pop music radio broadcaster NRJ opened a separate service in occupied Donetsk in January 2024 in which it installed a 1 kW transmitter providing broadcast coverage out to 50 kilometers (31.25 miles).
The Paris based NRJ group, which derives its name from the French word énergie, was founded as a single pop music radio station in 1981 before evolving into a worldwide group consisting of more than 33 subsidiary FM stations, around 220 internet stations and 12 mobile applications, as well as TV music video channels and many other services.
In 2006 NRJ Ukraine was started in 2006 by the Kyiv based holding company Evolution.
NRJ Russia was established by the Moscow based OOO ENERGIYA company since renamed GPM Radio. In late 2020 it signed a contrac with NRJ worth €1.25 million ($1.35 million) valid until Dec. 31, 2025.
In its 2023 annual report the French NRJ Group highlighted its support for Ukraine which included the organizing of charity evenings that provided funds to the Doc4Ukraine association which assists Ukrainian hospitals, orphanages, and nursing homes in war zones.
Interestingly the NRJ group literature makes no mention of either the Donetsk station or that based in Ukraine.
To the background of 40 minutes of mostly Western popular music played every hour, the Donetsk station, transmits “advertising” which is barely concealed pro-Kremlin propaganda. It regularly features calls to sign up to fight for Russia through the sluzhbapokontakty.rf (contract service) 117 hotline. The website gives step-by-step guidance on how to apply for a contract with the Russian armed forces which it says is “your right choice!”
Even though the NRJ Russia offshoot continues to promote Moscow propaganda it still receives NRJ group produced official jingles and recorded messages, many provided by international musicians such as Lady Gaga.
The Insider working with the Finnish based FoReDi Initiative, which supports resistance to the Putin regime, passed the results of its investigation into Russian NRJ’s activities to the French Audiovisual and Digital Communications Regulatory Authority (ARCOM) and NRJ group headquarters questioning the legality and ethics of the Russian GPM Radio activities. They have yet to receive any response.
Source: Kyiv Post