Russia Calls for OSCE Scrutiny of Media Freedoms in Latvia After RTR Planeta Ban
The Russian Foreign Ministry said Friday it wanted the OSCE media freedom watchdog to probe a three-month ban on the RTR Planeta channel in Latvia, which it said was a "gross violation."
Latvia's Electronic Mass Media Council on Thursday suspended rebroadcasting of the cable and satellite channel's shows, claiming they stoked hatred against Ukrainians.
"We expect that ... Latvia's repressive methods of pressuring media with the obvious aim to stop its nationals from accessing alternative news sources will not go unnoticed by specialist international organizations and particularly by OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Desir," the ministry said in a statement.
The channel was taken off the air several times since the war broke out in Ukraine in 2014. Latvia sided with Ukraine in blaming Russia for meddling in the conflict, a claim repeatedly denied by Moscow. Russian media have been frequently targeted in Latvia for being allegedly in breach of its broadcasting rules.