3 days ago
- Politics
- Time Business News
Why Listening to VOA in a Closet Saved a Family: Lessons from Alex Fink's Childhood in Soviet Moldova
In the USSR, access to uncensored news was strictly forbidden. For many, foreign radio broadcasts such as Voice of America (VOA) served as a vital connection to the outside world. Alex Fink , founder of the news platform OtherWeb, recalls how his family would secretly gather in a broom closet to listen to VOA broadcasts. For them, tuning in was not just about receiving information. It was an act of quiet defiance, a source of hope, and a reminder that freedom of thought still existed beyond the walls of repression.
As the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic, Moldova was one of the 15 republics that made up the Soviet Union. The central government in Moscow controlled nearly every aspect of life, including the economy, the media, and individual freedoms. Private enterprise was outlawed, and the state dictated what could be said, heard, or believed. Citizens were expected to follow the Communist Party's ideology without question, and dissent was met with severe consequences.
In such an environment, access to unfiltered news was extremely limited. Foreign radio stations such as Voice of America (VOA) were officially banned, and those caught listening to them faced punishment. Yet for many, these broadcasts served as a crucial lifeline. They offered a rare and precious window into the world beyond the Iron Curtain, providing not only information but also a sense of connection, truth, and hope.
For Alex Fink's family, the closet became a sanctuary where they could quietly listen to Voice of America without the constant fear of being discovered. Late at night, with the volume barely audible, they tuned in to news from the other side of the Iron Curtain. What they heard was more than just information. It brought a sense of solidarity and hope.
Listening to VOA was an act of silent defiance. It was a way to claim the right to know, to think freely, and to hold on to their humanity in a system designed to take it away.
Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in the 1980s had introduced policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) in a bid to give the Soviet system a new lease of life. The reforms liberalized freedom of speech and curbed government intervention. But they also revealed the inherent flaws of the Soviet system and fueled ambitions for more freedom.
For the vast majority of Moldovans, like Alex Fink, it was a time of upheaval and transformation. Increased freedom meant increased access to information and increased awareness of the world outside. But it meant political turmoil and economic hardship as the old order disintegrated.
When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Moldova underwent a dramatic transformation. The country gained independence, but the transition to a market economy was challenging. Economic hardship and political instability led many Moldovans to leave the country in search of work and a better life abroad.
Alex Fink was among those who left, driven by the hope of building a freer and more secure future in America. Life was not easy, but it was fueled by a desire for opportunity and self-determination. His journey reflects the experience of many Moldovans who continue to seek a better life beyond their homeland.
VOA's influence on Alex Fink's life shows the importance of an independent and unbiased media. Access to objective news in information-deprived societies is critical to informed decision-making and protecting the autonomy of individuals.
Today, the issue of political interference in the media and media freedom remains a thorn in Moldova's side. All of this, despite the legacy of the people who lost everything so that they could have access to the truth, serves as a reminder of the value of freedom of the press in the long run.
Alex Fink's testimony to having listened to VOA in a closet is a poignant tribute to the strength of the human spirit and the irrepressible human desire for freedom and truth. It is in remembrance of the immense difference that access to information can make to citizens of oppressive regimes and families. As we consider his testimony, we remember the role that a free press plays in democracy and human rights.
TIME BUSINESS NEWS
