In a significant move, the National Electronic Media Council (NEPLP) has restricted access to one of the most popular Russian torrent trackers, kinozal.tv. While NEPLP has yet to issue an official statement regarding this action, users attempting to access the site are met with a warning indicating that access has been limited.
Although no formal announcement regarding the ban has been made, the domain has already been added to the NEPLP’s list of restricted domains. Furthermore, the NEPLP’s list indicates that access has also been limited to ThePirateBay.org, the largest BitTorrent indexer and catalog for locating .torrent files.
This is not the first time NEPLP has enacted such measures. In late July, the council decided to block access to ten additional websites that disseminate Russian propaganda, as reported by the official publication Latvijas Vēstnesis. The council received a letter from another competent state authority concerning the content of websites such as obl1.ru, www.opennov.ru, and several others, which prompted a thorough evaluation.
In the correspondence, it was noted that the content distributed on these sites contradicts the security of Latvia’s information space and national security interests.
The letter emphasized that these websites propagate one-sided and biased information regarding the war in Ukraine, mobilizing public and informational support for Russian servicemen involved in the conflict. Additionally, they seek to legitimize the annexation of territories in Ukraine by Russia and foster a favorable understanding of history that aligns with Russian narratives, ultimately shaping a positive perception of Russia.
Concerns were raised about the potential negative impact on the cohesion of Latvian society, interethnic relations, and the understanding of shared values. This could undermine Latvia’s solidarity and support for Ukraine regarding its independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders.
Moreover, an analysis of the websites “служба-по-контракту24.рф” and “мобилизация.рф” reveals that they serve as platforms for recruiting servicemen in Russia for military operations in Ukraine.
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