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Signal
Submitted
Feb 14, 2026, 12:22 UTC
Lithuania's parliament votes to extend the ban on Russian and Belarusian TV and radio broadcasts as long as these countries threaten Lithuanian national security, citing propaganda and disinformation linked to the war in Ukraine.
Lithuania has moved to legally extend its ban on rerunning Russian and Belarusian radio and TV programs, as parliament approved amendments on April 18, 2024, with a decisive majority. The ban targets broadcasts from companies registered in the two countries as long as Moscow and Minsk are deemed threats by Lithuania's National Security Strategy. Culture Minister Simonas Kairys stated the ban is a defensive measure against aggressive disinformation connected to Russia's war in Ukraine. The Lithuanian authorities have actively enforced the ban online by blocking hundreds of websites and IP addresses. While the current restrictions are due to lapse on October 1, this legislative move ensures the continuation of limitations, allowing exceptions only from EU or convention-member states or with governing commission approval. This reflects Lithuania's ongoing efforts to protect national information security amid the hybrid warfare environment linked to Russia and Belarus.
Confidence: High
Classified as defense preparation because Lithuania is extending legal restrictions on Russian and Belarusian media to counter disinformation linked to Russian aggression; no aggressor action is described.
Source URL
https://lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2254534/lithuania-moves-to-ban-tv-from-russia-belarus-as-long-as-they-pose-threat
Published as a Defense Preparations signal with a public source and reviewer-approved assessment bands. See the methodology for how records are assessed.
{
"id": "8780bb4b-ed3a-4bd8-b3e8-c577be3ce5ca",
"url": "https://lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2254534/lithuania-moves-to-ban-tv-from-russia-belarus-as-long-as-they-pose-threat",
"source": "csv-import",
"status": "approved",
"category": "Political & Legal Subversion",
"subcategory": "Political Manipulation",
"incident_type": "Creating/manipulating political movements",
"country": "Lithuania",
"source_reliability": "A",
"info_credibility": "2",
"tags": [
"Lithuania",
"Russia",
"Belarus",
"disinformation",
"media bans",
"hybrid warfare",
"information operations",
"propaganda",
"national security",
"legislation"
],
"nodes": [],
"countries": [],
"where_text": "Cyberspace",
"headline": "Lithuania moves to ban TV from Russia, Belarus as long as they ‘pose threat’",
"description": "On April 18, 2024, Lithuania's parliament endorsed amendments to extend the ban on radio and television programmes produced by companies registered in Russia and Belarus. The ban, approved by a vote of 78 in favor and four abstentions, aims to remain until Russia and Belarus are deemed no longer threats to Lithuania's national security according to the National Security Strategy. Culture Minister Simonas Kairys emphasized that Russian and Belarusian broadcasts constitute propaganda and disinformation linked to Russia's armed aggression in Ukraine. Lithuanian authorities have already blocked over 400 websites and more than 300 IP addresses to enforce the online ban. Current restrictions are set to expire on October 1 but will now be proposed to continue, with exceptions for retransmission from EU member states or countries ratifying the European Convention on Transfrontier Television, or with Lithuanian regulatory approval.",
"summary_short": "Lithuania's parliament votes to extend the ban on Russian and Belarusian TV and radio broadcasts as long as these countries threaten Lithuanian national security, citing propaganda and disinformation linked to the war in Ukraine.",
"summary_extended": "Lithuania has moved to legally extend its ban on rerunning Russian and Belarusian radio and TV programs, as parliament approved amendments on April 18, 2024, with a decisive majority. The ban targets broadcasts from companies registered in the two countries as long as Moscow and Minsk are deemed threats by Lithuania's National Security Strategy. Culture Minister Simonas Kairys stated the ban is a defensive measure against aggressive disinformation connected to Russia's war in Ukraine. The Lithuanian authorities have actively enforced the ban online by blocking hundreds of websites and IP addresses. While the current restrictions are due to lapse on October 1, this legislative move ensures the continuation of limitations, allowing exceptions only from EU or convention-member states or with governing commission approval. This reflects Lithuania's ongoing efforts to protect national information security amid the hybrid warfare environment linked to Russia and Belarus.",
"actor_primary": "Culture Minister Simonas Kairys",
"target_primary": null,
"location_text": "Lithuania",
"location_region": null,
"location_coordinates_lat": null,
"location_coordinates_lon": null,
"location_precision": "Regional",
"is_aggressor_signal": false,
"signal_type": "DEFENSE_PREP_SIGNAL",
"is_hybrid_war_signal": true,
"classification_complete": true,
"hybrid_signal_complete": true,
"classification_confidence": "High",
"classification_rationale": "Classified as defense preparation because Lithuania is extending legal restrictions on Russian and Belarusian media to counter disinformation linked to Russian aggression; no aggressor action is described.",
"event_time_utc": "2024-04-18T00:00:00.000Z",
"end_time_utc": null,
"event_time_confidence": "pm24h",
"created_at": "2026-02-14T12:22:52.466Z",
"updated_at": "2026-11-08T20:13:30.441Z",
"reliability_band": "strong",
"location_precision_band": "regional",
"time_precision_band": "within_24h",
"severity_band": "moderate",
"attribution_confidence_band": "high",
"attribution_basis": "single_source"
}Source reliability
A
Info credibility
2
Event time
Apr 18, 2024, 00:00 UTC
Event time confidence
pm24h
Location
Lithuania
Primary actor
Culture Minister Simonas Kairys
Country
Lithuania
Tags
Lithuania, Russia, Belarus, disinformation, media bans, hybrid warfare, information operations, propaganda, national security, legislation
Signal
Submitted
Feb 14, 2026, 12:22 UTC
Lithuania's parliament votes to extend the ban on Russian and Belarusian TV and radio broadcasts as long as these countries threaten Lithuanian national security, citing propaganda and disinformation linked to the war in Ukraine.
Lithuania has moved to legally extend its ban on rerunning Russian and Belarusian radio and TV programs, as parliament approved amendments on April 18, 2024, with a decisive majority. The ban targets broadcasts from companies registered in the two countries as long as Moscow and Minsk are deemed threats by Lithuania's National Security Strategy. Culture Minister Simonas Kairys stated the ban is a defensive measure against aggressive disinformation connected to Russia's war in Ukraine. The Lithuanian authorities have actively enforced the ban online by blocking hundreds of websites and IP addresses. While the current restrictions are due to lapse on October 1, this legislative move ensures the continuation of limitations, allowing exceptions only from EU or convention-member states or with governing commission approval. This reflects Lithuania's ongoing efforts to protect national information security amid the hybrid warfare environment linked to Russia and Belarus.
Confidence: High
Classified as defense preparation because Lithuania is extending legal restrictions on Russian and Belarusian media to counter disinformation linked to Russian aggression; no aggressor action is described.
Source URL
https://lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2254534/lithuania-moves-to-ban-tv-from-russia-belarus-as-long-as-they-pose-threat
Published as a Defense Preparations signal with a public source and reviewer-approved assessment bands. See the methodology for how records are assessed.
{
"id": "8780bb4b-ed3a-4bd8-b3e8-c577be3ce5ca",
"url": "https://lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2254534/lithuania-moves-to-ban-tv-from-russia-belarus-as-long-as-they-pose-threat",
"source": "csv-import",
"status": "approved",
"category": "Political & Legal Subversion",
"subcategory": "Political Manipulation",
"incident_type": "Creating/manipulating political movements",
"country": "Lithuania",
"source_reliability": "A",
"info_credibility": "2",
"tags": [
"Lithuania",
"Russia",
"Belarus",
"disinformation",
"media bans",
"hybrid warfare",
"information operations",
"propaganda",
"national security",
"legislation"
],
"nodes": [],
"countries": [],
"where_text": "Cyberspace",
"headline": "Lithuania moves to ban TV from Russia, Belarus as long as they ‘pose threat’",
"description": "On April 18, 2024, Lithuania's parliament endorsed amendments to extend the ban on radio and television programmes produced by companies registered in Russia and Belarus. The ban, approved by a vote of 78 in favor and four abstentions, aims to remain until Russia and Belarus are deemed no longer threats to Lithuania's national security according to the National Security Strategy. Culture Minister Simonas Kairys emphasized that Russian and Belarusian broadcasts constitute propaganda and disinformation linked to Russia's armed aggression in Ukraine. Lithuanian authorities have already blocked over 400 websites and more than 300 IP addresses to enforce the online ban. Current restrictions are set to expire on October 1 but will now be proposed to continue, with exceptions for retransmission from EU member states or countries ratifying the European Convention on Transfrontier Television, or with Lithuanian regulatory approval.",
"summary_short": "Lithuania's parliament votes to extend the ban on Russian and Belarusian TV and radio broadcasts as long as these countries threaten Lithuanian national security, citing propaganda and disinformation linked to the war in Ukraine.",
"summary_extended": "Lithuania has moved to legally extend its ban on rerunning Russian and Belarusian radio and TV programs, as parliament approved amendments on April 18, 2024, with a decisive majority. The ban targets broadcasts from companies registered in the two countries as long as Moscow and Minsk are deemed threats by Lithuania's National Security Strategy. Culture Minister Simonas Kairys stated the ban is a defensive measure against aggressive disinformation connected to Russia's war in Ukraine. The Lithuanian authorities have actively enforced the ban online by blocking hundreds of websites and IP addresses. While the current restrictions are due to lapse on October 1, this legislative move ensures the continuation of limitations, allowing exceptions only from EU or convention-member states or with governing commission approval. This reflects Lithuania's ongoing efforts to protect national information security amid the hybrid warfare environment linked to Russia and Belarus.",
"actor_primary": "Culture Minister Simonas Kairys",
"target_primary": null,
"location_text": "Lithuania",
"location_region": null,
"location_coordinates_lat": null,
"location_coordinates_lon": null,
"location_precision": "Regional",
"is_aggressor_signal": false,
"signal_type": "DEFENSE_PREP_SIGNAL",
"is_hybrid_war_signal": true,
"classification_complete": true,
"hybrid_signal_complete": true,
"classification_confidence": "High",
"classification_rationale": "Classified as defense preparation because Lithuania is extending legal restrictions on Russian and Belarusian media to counter disinformation linked to Russian aggression; no aggressor action is described.",
"event_time_utc": "2024-04-18T00:00:00.000Z",
"end_time_utc": null,
"event_time_confidence": "pm24h",
"created_at": "2026-02-14T12:22:52.466Z",
"updated_at": "2026-11-08T20:13:30.441Z",
"reliability_band": "strong",
"location_precision_band": "regional",
"time_precision_band": "within_24h",
"severity_band": "moderate",
"attribution_confidence_band": "high",
"attribution_basis": "single_source"
}Source reliability
A
Info credibility
2
Event time
Apr 18, 2024, 00:00 UTC
Event time confidence
pm24h
Location
Lithuania
Primary actor
Culture Minister Simonas Kairys
Country
Lithuania
Tags
Lithuania, Russia, Belarus, disinformation, media bans, hybrid warfare, information operations, propaganda, national security, legislation