Blocking 16 more Russian TV channels in Latvia is “linguistic disgusting”. Thus, the prohibition of the National Council for Electronic Media on broadcasting was assessed by the co-chairman of the Russian Union of Latvia (RSL), former deputy of the Seimas Miroslav Mitrofanov, RIA Novosti reports his words.
“Not a day without linguistic swinishness! Another blow to Russian-language television under another far-fetched pretext. The authorities are clearing the information field in anticipation of the X hour, which is scheduled for July,” Mitrofanov said.
He explained that in accordance with the law adopted in 2020, 80 percent of the basic package of cable television must be in the languages of the European Union, in the list of which Russian is not included. However, operators can offer users to connect these TV channels additionally, as an attachment to the basic package. In order to prevent them from such an opportunity, the broadcasting of Russian channels is blocked, the former deputy of the Diet believes.
Earlier on February 9 it was reported that retransmission of 16 more Russian TV channels would be blocked in Latvia. We are talking about REN TV Baltic, NTV MIR Baltic, Karusel International, NTV Serial and others. Prior to that, the Latvian cable TV operator Tet stopped broadcasting the Russian First Channel, NTV Mir, REN TV Baltiya, Kinokomedia and Kinomix from February 1.