Lithuanian TV firm stops broadcasting of all Russian channels

Lithuanian TV company Telia said on Sunday that it had stopped broadcasting all Russian channels due to possible EU and US sanctions against Russia over its military operation in Ukraine.

“Telia suspended broadcasting of all Russian channels on Sunday due to possible EU and US sanctions. 4 out of 40 Russian channels had been already stopped last Friday, as directed by Lithuanian TV and radio commission,” Telia said in a written statement.

On February 21, after an extraordinary large meeting of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, the head of state addressed the citizens of Russia, saying that he considered it necessary to make a decision to immediately recognize the sovereignty of the LPR and the DPR. Immediately after the appeal, the president signed decrees in the Kremlin recognizing the republics.

In the early hours of February 24, Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine after the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk requested assistance to defend themselves from attacks by Ukrainian troops. The Russian Defense Ministry said the operation was targeting the military infrastructure of Ukraine and the civilian population was not in danger. Moscow says it has no plans to occupy Ukraine. UNI