Lithuanian watchdog turns to court over YouTube channel after Paleckis' interview

VILNIUS – Lithuanian prosecutors have opted not to take public interest defense measures after examining an interview by Algirdas Paleckis, a controversial figure convicted for spying for Russia, but the Lithuanian Radio and Television Commission (LRTC) has turned to court over the YouTube channel that aired his statements, the Prosecutor General's Office said on Friday.

The interview by Paleckis, who is currently serving his sentence in Kaunas Remand Prison, contained disinformation, it said in a press release.  

The office said that a public interest prosecutor had asked the LRTC to conduct an investigation into the interview on the YouTube channel and to report the results to the prosecutors.  

The LRTC informed the prosecutors that the YouTube channel was providing on-demand audiovisual media services illegally, without having notified the media watchdog of the start of such activity.

The LRTC has brought a court action within its competence to have such activity stopped, according to the press release.