DISINFO: Reason behind sanctioning RT in Latvia is still unclear
SUMMARY
The National Council of Electronic Media of Latvia has banned the broadcast of seven channels belonging to the RT group on the basis of personal sanctions, imposed by the European Union against Dmitry Kiselyov. It is worth noting that the Russian journalist and TV presenter is the general director of the Russian news agency “Russia Segodnya”, to which RT does not belong, so how did the National Council of Electronic Media in Latvia link Kiselyov to this channel remains unclear.
RESPONSE
A recurrent narrative against the Baltic states allegedly acting irrationally against RT and Sputnik. Latvia and Lithuania have banned the state-owned Russian television channel RT, saying it is controlled by an individual, Dmitriy Kiselyov, who is under EU sanctions. According to the Electronic Mass Media Council (NEPLP), Latvia's national media watchdog, RT and the network of channels operated by it are under Kiselyov's "effective control". Read full NEPLP's position here for details. For further debunking please see the Insider. Read similar stories: Russian Media are being discriminated against in the Baltic states, Estonian laws only foresee asset freezing for people and companies mentioned in the EU sanctions list.