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The company said in a statement that it was blocking the broadcasting of NTV Mir, Ren TV and two other Russian television channels, Pervyj Baltijskij kanal (PBK).
“Despite our repeated efforts, we are unable to obtain legally valid information on the beneficiaries of these channels, who may be related to those subject to international sanctions,” Tet said in a statement.
Last year, the Latvian State Security Service carried out several raids on PBK’s headquarters on suspicions that the TV channel could be linked to Yuri Kovalchuk, a Russian billionaire who is subject to US and EU sanctions for support Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014.
The US Treasury Department describes Kovalchuk as one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “tellers.”
About a third of the population of Latvia speaks Russian as their first language.
The governments of the Baltic countries often accuse the Russian-controlled television channels that are broadcast in these states of disinformation and dissemination of Kremlin propaganda.
Tet’s decision is welcome. It will reduce the pressure of Russian propaganda in Latvia, “Ivaras Abuolinis, president of the National Council for Electronic Media (NEC), told AFP.
According to I.Aabuolinis, his agency is now inspecting the beneficiaries of all foreign TV channels broadcast in Latvia, so further restrictions may be imposed.
Tet is the largest provider of voice, data and television services in Latvia. The company is owned by the Swedish telecommunications company Telia and the government of Latvia.
It is the only digital terrestrial television transmission operator in Latvia, in addition to offering cable television services and services related to television on demand.
The annual turnover of the company exceeds 200 million. euros.
According to Kantar TNS, PBK was the third most watched TV channel in Latvia in 2020, while NTV Mir and Ren TV ranked fifth and sixth.
The three channels account for about 15 percent. television market in Latvia.
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