Broadcasters Association Slams Latvia’s Denial to Register Rossiya Segodnya

The Head of Latvia's Association of Broadcasting Organizations criticized banning Russia’s Rossiya Segodnya news agency stressing Latvian society unwillingness to get a comprehensive view on current world news.

RIGA (Sputnik) – Banning Russia’s Rossiya Segodnya news agency in Latvia means that the Latvian society is being limited in the desire for comprehensive view on what is happening in the world, Gunta Lidaka, the director of the country’s Association of Broadcasting Organizations, said, as cited by the local media.

On Friday, Latvia turned down the application to register the representative office of Rossiya Segodnya in the country, explaining its decision by the media’s registration application allegedly not complying with Latvian constitution.

“Banning any content makes it impossible for us to comprehensively assess what is happening in the world,” Lidaka said in an interview with Mixnews news portal.

Latvia received the application from the international information agency Rossiya Segodnya on April 29.

The agency has until October 4 to appeal the rejection, according to Latvian regulator spokeswoman Evija Ivdra.

Earlier the Republic of Latvia's Register of Enterprises refused to register Rossiya Segodnya Information Agency as a media outlet in the country.