Several Russian propaganda websites were blocked in Latvia

The National Electronic Media Council of Latvia (NEPLP) has temporarily restricted access to websites associated with Russian propagandists.

This was reported by Latvijas Vestnesis. 

According to the publication, the decision to block was made under the EU Council Regulation on restrictive measures in connection with Russia’s actions destabilizing the situation in Ukraine.

The blocking includes websites associated with Russia Today English, Russia Today UK, Russia Today Germany, Russia Today France, Russia Today Spanish, and Sputnik. Access is also restricted to duplicate mirrors of these sites.

In December 2022, NEPLP revoked the license of the Russian opposition TV channel Rain (Dozhd). This decision was made “due to a threat to national security and public order.” In addition, access to the channel’s programs on the Youtube service was closed in Latvia. The reason for the revocation of the broadcasting license, according to NEPLP head Ivars Āboliņš, was that the channel failed to fulfill its obligation to translate its programs into Latvian under Latvian law.

A blow to Russian state propaganda

At a press conference on February 9 in Brussels, European Commission President Ursula von den Leyen said that the tenth package of EU sanctions will target not only Russia’s political and military leaders but also propagandists who spread disinformation in Russia and around the world.

“Russia must pay for the destruction caused and the blood spilled. In the coming days, we will propose the tenth package of sanctions. First, we will impose sanctions on a number of political and military leaders. […] But we will also target Putin’s propagandists because their lies are poisoning the public space in Russia and abroad. […] We are going after them,” von der Leyen said.

As reported, RT, the Russian propaganda TV channel, has been shut down in Germany

More on this topic

Earlier, we reported on the active information subversion activities carried out by Russian and pro-Russian media in Europe on the examples of Ruptly and Omerta.

Photo: Mladen Antonov/AFP/Getty Images