Lithuanian president’s proposals on Russian TV rebroadcast to be put before parliament

The president is suggesting amending the Law on Public Information, stating that at least 90 percent of the television programmes rebroadcast in Lithuania should be in the official languages of the European Union, except for special (thematic) packages.

In the president’s words, the measures are proposed “in the wake of increasingly frequent information attacks and hostile propaganda” from Russia. Russian TV production accounts for up to 30 percent of all programmes rebroadcast in Lithuania.

Under the proposed amendments, propagation and instigation of war, calls to undermine Lithuania’s sovereignty and independence could lead to the suspension or termination of a broadcasting or rebroadcasting license as well as heavy fines by the Radio and Television Commission of Lithuania. According to the President’s Office, similar rules are in force in Germany, France, Slovenia and Malta.

Calls to change Lithuania’s constitutional system by force, attempts to breach the country’s independence and instigation of war could lead to a fine of up to 100,000 litas (almost EUR 29,000).

The proposed amendments would also introduce fines of up to 50,000 litas for promoting pornography, sexual services, sexual perversion as well as use of drugs.