Sputnik’s D.C.-Based Programming Winds Down

With reporting by Carl Marcucci

MONTCLAIR, VA. — One female host could be heard crying. Others said their goodbyes, in between conversations that ranged from “Palestinian genocide” and anti-Israeli political discussions to explanations as to why the war in Ukraine is unjust and unfair to the government of Vladmir Putin.

Tuesday was the final day of Washington, D.C.-based programming for Sputnik — with programs produced and made by journalists from stateside Sputnik studios coming to an end.

As heard by RBR+TVBR from its administrative offices in Prince William County, Va., two consecutive shows saw commentators notifying listeners that it was their final show. While doing so, they took a defiant stance, asking what the “real threat to Democracy in America” is now?

For those who tune to Sputnik, and the people behind it, silencing the Voice of Russia’s English-language broadcasts heard around the clock on WZHF-AM 1390 in the Washington, D.C., market, and FM translator partner W288BS at 105.5 MHz is a violation of free speech. For veteran communications law practitioner Arthur Belendiuk, the end of Sputnik is a victory for his client Ukranian Congress Committee of America.

In February, Belendiuk declared, “My client is fighting the Russian empire on the home front.” Thus, he went to the FCC on the grounds that WZHF, a station licensed to Arthur Liu-controlled Way Broadcasting and leased to Florida-based foreign agent RM Broadcasting LLC, is in violation of commission rules for broadcasting “paid Russian state propaganda.” Specificially, Belendiuk filed the complaint with Enforcement Bureau Chief Loyaan Egal and claims Way Broadcasting repeatedly and willfuly violated Section 315(e) of the Communications Act and Section 73.1212(e) of the Commission’s rules.

RM is owned by Arnold Ferolito, registered with the U.S. Department of Justice as a Russian agent. RM isn’t the programmer — it resells its time, according to Belendiuk, to the government of Russia’s department housing Sputnik. For Liu, the endeavor was lucrative, as RM Broadcasting pays Arthur and Yvonne Liu $35,000 per month for the right to broadcast Radio Sputnik, Belendiuk told the FCC while citing documents outlining the lease agreement.

While Enforcement Bureau Chief Loyaan Egal was the recipient of Belendiuk’s petition, Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel is most certainly in the know when it comes to Sputnik’s place in the states, which also includes broadcasts on 6am-9am Central and from 6pm-9pm Central on KCXL Radio in Kansas City.

On January 4, she received a letter from Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Mich.), in which the House Member claims, “Russia actively exploited the 2016 election and election-related issues and through Radio Sputnik it is actively seeking to interfere with the 2024 election.”

With a contentious U.S. presidential election just days away, the timing of Sputnik’s demise could spring a whole bunch of theories as to why it is now disappearing. With Sputnik’s D.C.-based hosts on October 15 declaring that conservative-leaning Newsmax, One America News and center-right FOX News will be next, Wednesday morning’s broadcasts on KCXL and WZHF were from Sputnik’s international feed. And, content ranged from vehement anti-Israel political discussions to why the U.S. would support Ukraine — programming that perhaps is the very definition of propaganda.

RBR+TVBR’s Washington, D.C.-area office contacted John Garziglia, the retired Womble Bond Dickinson partner and W288BS licensee, late Tuesday about Sputnik hosts’ apparent farewells. He directed inquiries to Sputnik’s D.C.-based Editor-in-Chief Mindia Gavasheli. Mr. Gavasheli is linked to Rossiya Segodyna through limited liability company Ghebi, incorporated by Gavasheli.

SPUTNIK SHOT DOWN BY AMERICAN FORCES

Gavasheli on Wednesday spoke with RBR+TVBR exclusively. He offers one easy explanation for why Sputnik’s Washington bureau has shuttered. “The U.S. government imposed sanctions on Sputnik so we cannot continue working with them,” he said.

What’s next for Gavasheli? Production of any audio content that doesn’t involve Sputnik in any way. He explains, “We are a commercial production company looking for new clients who are in need of content.” Asked if this could involve, for example, podcasts focused on a range of topics including jazz music or American history, he replied, “It could be anything. If there is a client that wants a jazz podcast we would be happy to produce it. If there is a client that wants a podcast on American history we will try to find the right people for them, and produce it.”

With Gavasheli’s future still to be written, it is now affirmed that Sputnik’s presence on K Street and in the U.S. is now in the past.

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NAB Calls On Broadcasters To Cease Russian Programming