TV station threatens court action against government after press ban

  • 2014-07-03
  • From wire reports, TALLINN

Estonian Prime Minister Taavi Roivas

An Estonian TV company has threatened court action against the government after being banned from all press conferences

Estonian Prime Minister Taavi Rõivas banned journalists from Tallinn TV (TTV) after previously criticizing them for bias and being pro Kremlin

Despite the channel formally meeting requirements to obtain a license, they are not an objective channel and often use airtime for blatant propaganda for the Center Party, which rules Tallinn, or statements that undermine the credibility of the state, Roivas said.

However, Toomas Lepp, Member of the Management Board of Tallinn TV said its legal team would turn to court over the ban.

“It seems to me to be a form of political blackmail, which is not suitable for a democratic Government,” Lepp was quoted by the Õhtuleht newspaper.

“Tallinn TV is a public channel; all of the programmes produced by Tallinn TV can be watched on demand and journalists at Tallinn TV want to be allowed to do their work in peace.”