Latvia has blocked access to 17 web portals with Russian domains that publish distorted propaganda news.
Delfi reports that the Latvian National Electronic Media Council (NEPLP) has ordered the restriction of access to 17 Russian online resources that report on world events in accordance with the Kremlin’s narrative or publish other Russian propaganda.
The Latvian regulator made the decision after reviewing the content of the portals at the request of another agency.
Access to the website “russkie.org”, which disseminates distorted and biased information about events in Russia and the world, for example by highlighting the “special” role of Russia and the Russian language, has also been banned. It also disseminates Russian propaganda on events in Russia and the world, biased and one-sided coverage of the war in Ukraine, and justification of Russian aggression, the NEPLP explains.
Latvian providers will have to close access to the portals topcor.ru, russkie.org, yashkinskyrayon.rf, dagpravda.ru, otr-online. ru, sevkavportal.ru, nur-05.ru, nikatv.ru, informugra.ru, edinstvo-news.ru, gubtrk.ru, epochaheroyev.rf, overclockers.ru, grozny.tv, yakutia-daily.ru, riamo.ru, and heroesspetsoperatsii.rf.
The NEPLP stresses that the aforementioned websites also disseminate distorted and false information about world events, including the war in Ukraine, justifying Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and supporting the annexation of parts of Ukraine into Russia.
According to the NEPLP’s decisions, Internet access service providers must immediately deny access to the websites and their domain names, redirecting their users to the “nelegalssaturs.lv” information notice.
Shortly before the elections in September-October, Moldova blocked access to seven Russian websites, including the website of the so-called “government” of Crimea and the Russian propaganda agency RIA Novosti, which has been under EU sanctions since May 2024.
Moldova also blocked the Russian search engine Yandex, its largest video-hosting platform Rutube, and the social media platform Dzen.