Rádio Free Europe has begun moving to a new building

Prague - The radio station Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) has begun moving from the building of the former Federal Assembly in downtown Prague to a new facility in Prague's Hagibor. The move is expected to be completed by spring next year. Petra Šedinová, spokesperson for the development company Orco Property Group, which constructed the new building, said this today.
    The relocation of the radio station was contemplated after the attacks on American cities on September 11, 2001. The construction of the station's new headquarters began in 2006 and was officially completed this September. The main contractor for the project was the construction company Heberger. According to Šedinová, RFE/RL has leased the building for 15 years and has the option to extend the lease for another 15 years. Šedinová did not disclose the amount of rent or the total investment made by the developer in the building.
    The building, which meets the strictest international safety standards, will provide the radio with 22,000 square meters. The five-story complex was designed by the architectural studio Cigler Marani.
    RFE/RL is an international news organization that broadcasts news and information to countries where a free press is officially prohibited or not sufficiently developed. It has 25 million listeners in 20 countries, including Russia, Belarus, Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan. The station is headquartered in Prague and operates 19 local offices in its broadcast region and a branch in Washington.