Latvia bans russian TV channels until russia ends war in Ukraine
The National Council on Electronic Media of Latvia has decided to ban broadcasting the last 80 russian TV channels, which Latvians could still watch.
Delfi reports.
The authorities made the decision given the new legislation, which stipulates that programs registered in a country that threatens the independence and territorial integrity of another country cannot operate in Latvia.
This decision will take effect on June 9 and will remain in force until russia ends the war against Ukraine and returns occupied Crimea.
Channels such as E TV, Illusion +, Kino24, Svit TV, Hunting and Fishing, Pepper, Rossiysky Illusion, and others were banned.
The decision to block russian channels, including entertainment, was made by the National Council on Electronic Media in early March. Global Media, which rebroadcasts these TV channels in Latvia, has filed a lawsuit to suspend the decision.
On April 29, the Administrative Court decided to temporarily return russian TV channels TNT-Comedy, TNT4 International, Friday, KHL TV Channel, and TNT Music to Latvian air. The court explained its decision because the council could not argue how entertainment channels threaten the national security of Latvia.
The council appealed the decision to a higher court. On May 26, in its final reading, the Latvian Seimas passed amendments to the Law on Electronic Media, which give the National Council on Electronic Media the right to restrict foreign programs if they are made in countries that threaten the sovereignty of other countries.
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Besides waging war on the Ukrainian territory, russia has been using information space to push forward fascist and anti-Ukrainian narratives not only to russians but also to Ukrainians and citizens of Western countries. It comes up with news stories to shift attention from war crimes committed by the russian army. By weaponizing information and producing fakes and disinformation, russia creates the illusion of the russians' innocence and "good russians."
Since the start of russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, numerous countries and the EU have banned russian propaganda TV channels and outlets from spreading disinformation. So far, about 30 countries in Europe have wholly or partially stopped broadcasting russian propaganda channels. Among them are Romania, the UK, Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Greece, Moldova, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, and Georgia.
