Hundreds of thousands of citizens have gathered in Prague, Czech capital, to protest government plans that, according to them, endanger the freedom and independence of public media.

According to organisers, about 350 thousand attended the rally held in the Letná space, turning it into one of the biggest protests in the country’s history.

Protesters oppose Prime Minister Andrej Babık’s government proposal for the removal of the mandatory fee financing Cek Television and Czech Radio, replacing it with direct financing from the state budget.

According to opponents, such a change would give the government more influence on public media and endanger their editorial independence.

The organisation é Million Moments for Democracy, which organised the protest, accused the government of trying to silence critics and treat democratic institutions as its property.

We are witnessing something extraordinary today, declared the chief organiser, Miculáh. Miná, for Associated Press.

The proposed changes are expected to lower television and public radio budgets by about 15 percent, prompting reactions by international media organisations as well.

The European Broadcasting Union, the European Federation of Journalists, Reporters Without Borders and the International Press Institute have criticised the plan, warning of the danger of political influence on public broadcasters.

However, Prime Minister Bab forefathers has dismissed the accusations, claiming that claims of public media statehood are untrue.

Under no circumstances will we intervene in editorial work, he stressed. /Telegraphy/