BRATISLAVA (Reuters) - Radio Twist, an independent station often at odds with Slovak Prime Minister Vladimír Mečiar, was cut off the air on Monday in a dispute over transmission payments to the state telecommunications authorities. "(Telecom) cut us off even though we paid the 170,000 crown ($5,050) instalment for operational costs on Monday according to our payment calendar," owner and director Andrej Hryc told Reuters. "In view of the fact that state television owes the post office at least 400 million crowns and state radio also has a several hundred million crown debt, I think there is more behind it than meets the eye," Hryc said. "I see this as a direct result of a recent statement by Prime Minister Vladimír Mečiar that we would learn a lesson." Broadcasts ended shortly after Twist`s midday newscast. Telecom officials were not available to comment. Among news organisations in Slovakia, Twist has been one of the most active in pursuing controversies surrounding the Mečiar government, and has been accused by officials of biased reporting. Last week in a television interview Mečiar accused Twist and the Bratislava independent daily Novy Cas of "media madness" which would have to be solved by "new laws preventing them earning money in this manner". The two media organisations were among the most aggressive in trying to track down the prime minister recently when he was unexpectedly absent from Bratislava and was later reported to be on an unofficial visit to Croatia. In 1995, Meciar`s ruling coalition proposed a draft law imposing a special tax on media but withdrew it after all leading Slovak dailies appeared with blank front pages in protest.