The Lithuanian Commission on Radio and Television (LKRTV) on March 8 decided to oblige ISPs to block IP addresses this week to prevent further viewing of Russian TV channels subject to EU sanctions. This was reported by the press service of the government.
The commission found out that TV channels that fell under EU sanctions are distributed on the Internet. It has also been established that access to the data packets of banned TV channels is carried out by the IP addresses of the servers used to access the TV channels NTV, Channel One, Russia 1 (VGTRK), Russia 24 (VGTRK) and RTR Planeta ( VGTRK).
The decision to block IP addresses was made after discussions with representatives of ISPs, as well as after a positive assessment of the readiness and technical capabilities of providers to implement the solution this week.
Providers will have to eliminate access to the IP addresses used to access these TV channels within five working days from the date the LKRTV decision comes into force.
Following amendments to the Law on Public Information adopted by the Seimas last year, a ban on rebroadcasting and distribution on the Internet of TV and radio channels of entities created in Russia and Belarus, directly or indirectly owned, controlled or financed by these countries.
After Russia started hostilities in Ukraine, the EU Council imposed sanctions against Russian TV channels RT, Sputnik, Russia RTR/RTR Planet, Russia 24/Russia 24, TV Center International, NTV/NTV Mir, Russia 1, REN TV , “First channel”.