The Lithuanian Radio and Television Commission (LRTK) has decided to initiate a procedure for the suspension of the free reception of RTR Planeta in the country.
In a statement, it says it is doing so due to repeated violations of the European Union Audiovisual Media Services Directive and the Law on Public Information of the Republic of Lithuania.
LRTK adds that it established that on September 17, 2020, the position expressed by Vladimir Zhirinovsky, who participated in the retransmitted TV show “60 Minutes” of RTR Planeta, was aggressive towards Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Ukraine, Poland, encouraging incitement to hatred.
This is the second time that such a violation has been seen this year and if a third is detected in 2020 the regulator, after performing all the necessary procedures, may suspend the channel for 12 months or more.
The procedures will involve contacting the channel’s operator VGTRK in Russia, regulator in Sweden, where it is licensed, and the EC.
