DISINFO: The Lithuanian authorities are violating the right of Russian speaking people to get information in the mother tongue
SUMMARY
The decision of the Lithuanian Radio and Television Commission to temporarily dismiss “RTR Planet” from Lithuanian cable TV networks is politically motivated and violating human rights.
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This decision violates the right of access to information.
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The decision aims to refuse the possibility of Russian speaking people to communicate and get information in their mother tongue. It is a political decision.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation message about the violation of the human rights and freedom of the speech in Lithuania.
The Lithuanian Radio and Television Commission found that TV channel “RTR Planeta” violated the Lithuanian Law on the provision of the information to the public. In particular, the Commission found that paragraph 1(3) and paragraph 2 of Article 19 of the Republic of Lithuania Law on Public Information were violated. A segment from the news programme “Vesti" disseminated on January 13 2021 about events in Vilnius on January 13 was judged to be disinformation and inciting hatred.
This was not the first time that the TV channel “RTR Planeta” has been found in breach of the Lithuanian law. This fact allows the Lithuanian Radio and Television Commission to dismiss this TV channel from local cable networks for 12 months or longer.
Russian speaking people in Lithuania have a lot of possibilities to receive information in their mother tongue (including other Russian TV channels in the local cable networks). The use of the Russian language in private communication is also not restricted.
Lithuania has implemented this practice of a temporary cutting off of the retransmission of foreign TV channels on cable networks for violation of Lithuanian laws since 2013. The European Commission recognised that this practice complies with EU rules.
See similar accusations about Lithuanian and other Baltic states in the following cases: Latvia is persecuting Russian media; The Baltic states are persecuting the Russian media; Russian media are being discriminated in Baltic states.