The Latvian regulator NEPLP has banned the distribution of three Russian channels in the country on the grounds of national security.
In a statement, it says that Rossiya RTR, Rossiya 24 and TV Centr have been prohibited for five, four and three years respectively.
It adds that “this decision was taken for the first time in the history of the European Union, using a provision in the Audiovisual Media Services Directive that allows derogations from the approximately one-year restriction procedure in emergency situations”.
According to NEPLP chairman Ivars Abolins, “The violations are serious, and in the last two years, by restricting the operation of 41 Russian-related channels in Latvia with various decisions, Latvia has given a clear signal that we have protected, will protect and will protect our information space. NEPLP calls on all EU member states to use our evidence and to follow the example of Latvia by stopping the retransmission of these programmes”.
