Islamic TV station launches in Russia

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MOSCOW, Aug. 20 (UPI) -- Russia's first Islamic television station has begun broadcasting, the channel's chief editor said.

The station, AL-RTV, is meant to promote Islamic religious and spiritual values, RIA Novosti reported Monday. It was launched Sunday to coincide with the holiday Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the Islamic holy month of fasting, Ramadan.

AL-RTV chief editor Rustam Arifdzhanov is also the vice president of the Eurasian Academy of Television and Radio Broadcasting.

"From day one we started operating as a public TV channel," he said.

The station is funded by a combination of private donations and government grants, RIA Novosti reported. It covers eight Russian regions: Bashkortostan, Tatarstan and six North Caucasus republics.