Latvia takes bold step against Russian broadcasts, aims to cut off propaganda

Latvia’s media regulator is calling for a ban on all private radio stations broadcasting in the Russian language, arguing that state resources should not be used to fund Russian-language media.

Call to Terminate Russian-Language Radio Operations

The National Electronic Media Council of Latvia (NEPLP) believes the state is indirectly subsidizing commercial Russian-language broadcasting by allowing these stations to use state-owned radio frequencies free of charge. The council has urged Saeima members to adopt a resolution to terminate the operations of all such stations.

“Latvia should not fund the operations of private Russian-language radio stations,” said NEPLP chair Ivars Abolins. He explained that radio frequencies represent the most valuable asset in the business, and providing them without cost effectively amounts to state support for that media space.

Eight-Year Phase-Out Proposal

The regulator submitted an initiative to the parliamentary Committee on Human Rights and Public Affairs more than a month ago to gradually phase out Russian-language radio stations over eight years. However, according to Abolins, the matter has not yet been added to the committee’s agenda. He publicly criticized committee chair Leila Rasima for failing to review the initiative.

Logical Step Following Education Reform

Latvia has already fundamentally reformed its education system, switching entirely to the state language. The NEPLP argues that maintaining Russian-language commercial radio is therefore illogical and detrimental to the country. Abolins urged lawmakers to consider the issue from a state-building perspective and support the ban.

“Latvia has moved to state-funded education exclusively in Latvian, and there is no reason for valuable state resources to be spent supporting Russian-language content in the commercial radio space,” Abolins emphasized.

The debate over the role of Russian in Latvia’s public sphere has been ongoing. Previously, the Saeima increased the VAT on Russian-language printed publications, making their production economically unsustainable.

Elsewhere, Kazakhstan is also reportedly moving away from Russian, with a draft of a new constitution proposing revisions to the wording defining the status of the Russian language. Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada recently approved a resolution amending passport formats, removing Russian language entries.