Access to two more Russian websites with propaganda content is denied in Latvia

“mirtesen.ru” presents itself as a social network whose users can create an information flow, while “5vlast.com” advertises itself as a “Voronezh and not only news” channel.

The inspection of both websites was carried out by NEPLP after receiving “a letter from another competent state administrative authority”. The letters stated that the websites are used to support Russia’s aggressive propaganda, including spreading distorted and false information about Russia’s war against Ukraine and war crimes committed by Russia.

While checking the websites, NEPLP found that they spread distorted and false information about events in the world, including the war in Ukraine, justifying Russia’s actions. Likewise, hate-inciting information and information, with the aim of discrediting the Latvian state and NATO, are distributed on websites. Such information in Latvia’s information space can create a false impression of events in the world, negatively affect the coexistence of various social groups in Latvia, and create a threat to Latvia’s national security, notes the council.

The council concluded that the websites are used to, for example, spread propaganda, war propaganda, support the war in Ukraine and a narrative directed against the Ukrainian state and the Ukrainian nation, as well as distorted and false information about the political, economic and social processes taking place in Latvia.

NEPLP decided to restrict access in Latvia to both websites and their duplicating mirror pages, informing the merchants providing Internet access services of the decision and instructing them to immediately deny access to the pages, directing their users to the informative notice “nelegalssaturs.lv”.