The Kremlin-funded network RT America has ceased operations and laid off most of its staff according to a memo from T&R Productions, the production company behind the Russian propaganda network.
In an all-hands meeting on Thursday, general manager Misha Solodovnikov informed staffers that the company was “ceasing production” across all of the network’s locations due to “unforeseen business interruption events.” The layoffs were effective immediately.
Solodovnikov also said that the “layoff will be permanent” and will “result in the permanent separation from employment of most T
RT America will cease productions and lay off most of its staff, according to a memo from T&R Productions, the production company behind the Russian state-funded network, which CNN obtained.
During a meeting on Thursday afternoon, general manager Misha Solodovnikov informed staffers that the company was “ceasing production” across all of the network’s locations due to “unforeseen business interruption events,” Solodovnikov also said that the “layoff will be permanent”, according to The Daily Beast.
The news would mean an effective end to RT America, noted CNN. The network, one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s main propaganda outlets in the US, was dropped earlier this week by DirecTV, dealing a major financial blow to it.
Several employees from RT’s various networks have also publicly resigned from the outlet amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“The meeting was all of about two minutes,” an attendee told CNN, explaining that Solodovnikov told the assembled staff RT America would be stopping production and that staff would be provided two months pay.
The mood was somber, the attendee said. “A lot of people were shocked. A lot of people were crying.”
