The Lithuanian Radio and Television Commission (LRTK) banned Russian TV channels NTV Mir, RTR Planeta, Rossiya 24, PBK, TVCI and Belarusian Belarus 24. After monitoring the channels, LRTK said it had taken the decision over what it said was the dissemination of state-backed disinformation about the invasion of Ukraine. The first four channels were banned for five years, the last two channels for three years. The ban was made before the decision of the European Commission and the European Council to block access to Russian state-owned media within the bloc.

(International press freedom groups including IPI have expressed concerns about bans against RT and Sputnik. Read our full statement here)