Constitutional Court’s ruling does not require immediate changes in work on foreign-language content -LSM

RIGA — The Constitutional Court has ruled that regulations regarding the production of public media content in minority languages are unconstitutional, though the ruling does not require immediate changes to content production at Latvijas Sabiedriskais Medijs (LSM), the nation’s public broadcaster.

Constitutional Court Ruling

The court emphasized that while respecting the rights of national minorities, the Latvian language must remain the primary language of public media to ensure national security and democratic participation. The ruling stems from an application by members of the National Alliance and United List factions of the Saeima, who argued the existing regulations undermined the status of Latvian as the sole official language and posed a threat to national security.

LSM spokeswoman Raina Anna Locmele stated that the principles outlined by the court – the Latvian language as the state language, respect for minority rights, and national security – are already central to LSM’s editorial approach. She noted that LSM substantially altered its approach to foreign-language content in the summer of 2025, ceasing radio and television programs in Russian and moving all foreign-language content, including Russian, Ukrainian, and English, to a digital-only format.

Currently, less than 2.5 percent of LSM’s content budget is allocated to foreign-language content, with the remaining 97.5 percent dedicated to Latvian-language content. Locmele affirmed LSM’s commitment to participating in the improvement of the Law on Public Electronic Media and its Management, offering professional input for a balanced approach to reaching minority audiences.

Russian Language Considerations

The Constitutional Court found that the Russian language is sufficiently supported by commercial media in Latvia, with numerous print, audiovisual, and digital options available, including programs from other countries. Therefore, the court concluded that the existence and development of the Russian language and associated national identity are not threatened, and special state support is not required.

The court also highlighted the need for public service media to counter aggressive and hostile war propaganda and disinformation, particularly originating from Russia, by providing objective and fact-based information in minority languages when necessary.

Implementation and Next Steps

The Constitutional Court’s ruling will take effect on May 1, 2027, providing the Saeima with time to develop a legal framework that balances the state’s obligations regarding language, minority rights, and national security. The judgment is final.