Lithuania cable TV operator suspends Russian-language TV channel

The company Cgates, which is an operator of the cable TV network in the Baltic republic of Lithuania, suspended the broadcasting of the Russian-language First Baltic Channel. “Our clients have filed many complaints that the television programme “Man and the Law”, which was broadcast on the First Baltic Channel on Friday, October 4, had probably violated the Lithuanian laws,” this text appeared on the TV screens of the company’s clients on Monday evening. Then Cgates reported that the company suspends the broadcasting “as long as we receive explanations from the First Baltic Channel and specific Lithuanian agencies.” The company said with hope that the broadcasting would be resumed within next few days. Other Lithuanian cable TV operators did not support Cgates’ step and broadcast the programmes of the First Baltic Channel. The claims are linked with the auteur programme “Man and the Law” of Russia’s Channel One. The programmes and films of Channel One make a large part of broadcasts on the First Baltic Channel. The TV report that dwelt on dramatic events in Vilnius in 1991, the interpretation of which raises political disputes up to now, made the Cgates customers indignant. The Lithuanian committee for radio and television announced that it conducts an inquiry to give a legal assessment to the actions of the First Baltic Channel.