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"Such programs as Russia RTR, which propagate hate speech, have no place in Latvia," said Abolins, adding that a decision on the Russian television channel could be made in about a month or so.

As reported, NEPLP this past July started a procedure to restrict the broadcasting of Russian TV channel Russia RTR in Latvia for incitement to hatred on the channel's 60 Minutes talk show. In case of a repeated violation, NEPLP might decide to ban Russia RTR in Latvia, the regulator said at the time.

As LETA was told at NEPLP, during a debate on the 60 Minutes talk show, both participants of the discussion and host Olga Skabeeva used expressions that can be regarded as hate speech. Ukraine, for instance, was called a terrorist state and its former president Petro Poroshenko a terrorist. Ukraine's representative indicated that Russia is waiting for Ukraine to split up so it could be defeated. During the discussion, the host of the TV show proposed a Russian invasion into Ukraine to quash the conflict.

The Latvian Electronic Mass Media Law prohibits broadcasting content inciting to aggression or hate. In this case, NEPLP found a possible violation of the law in the TV host's remarks about Ukraine and its people.