The TV channel said that it could not pay the debt for satellite broadcasting and most likely, starting at 00:00 on December 21, the company-provider Spacecom will disconnect ATR from the air.

Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Lyudmila Denisova asked the Cabinet of Ministers to ensure stable funding for the Crimean Tatar TV channel ATR.

According to her, the only Crimean Tatar TV channel ATR broadcasts in Crimean Tatar and Ukrainian.

"This situation is unacceptable, as the residents of the temporarily occupied peninsula need objective information about modern Ukraine. In particular, they are interested in the state's actions to protect the rights of Crimeans", - the ombudsman said.

Denisova stressed the importance of ensuring ATR broadcasting in the occupied Crimea.

"I appeal to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to ensure a stable mechanism for financing the ATR TV channel, which broadcasts in Crimean Tatar and Ukrainian", - she said.

She also noted that this is not the first time that the problem of underfunding the Crimean Tatar broadcaster has arisen. In particular, in early 2020, due to lack of funds, the staff of the TV channel was reduced by 45 percent.

"Then, according to my recommendations provided by the State Committee for Television and Radio Broadcasting, additional funds were allocated by the government. I hope that the problem will be solved and the state will provide funding for the only Crimean Tatar TV channel ATR".

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