In Lithuania, during the continuation of Russophobic repressions, the broadcast of the Russian channel “RTR-Planeta” was stopped under a far-fetched pretext.
Official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova stated this during a briefing, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“It is with regret that we have to note another case of neglect of the rights of national minorities and violation of freedom of speech in Lithuania, which claims to be a “model” of Western democracy.
The other day, the Lithuanian Radio and Television Commission, the national media regulator, under far-fetched pretexts, began a procedure to suspend the broadcast of the popular Russian TV channel RTR-Planeta in the country.
The Lithuanian authorities, who naturally care for high standards of democratic rights and freedoms in other countries, at home continue a consistent line of eradicating any dissent, within the framework of which Russian media are forced out of the country’s information field,” she said.
The representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry emphasized that Russophobia in Lithuania has become so overt that it even causes criticism from relevant international organizations.
“It is noteworthy that the unfavorable situation in Lithuania in the field of freedom of speech has already become the subject of criticism from relevant international structures. Thus, Reporters Without Borders in July of this year condemned the actions of Vilnius to ban the broadcast of Russia Today TV channels.
We hope that common sense will prevail and Lithuania will finally begin to comply with the norms of civilized states generally accepted in Europe, and relevant international structures will not leave this topic without an appropriate reaction,” Zakharova added.