Media regulator urges Saeima to terminate operations of Russian-language radio stations in Latvia

The National Electronic Mass Media Council (NEPLP) is calling on members of parliament to adopt a decision to shut down all private radio stations broadcasting in Russian.

According to Delfi, NEPLP Chair Ivars Abolins stated that Latvia should not finance the activities of private Russian-language radio stations.

He argued that Latvia is effectively funding such stations because they use state-owned frequencies free of charge, which are public property and the most valuable part of their business.

Abolins also recalled that more than a month has passed since NEPLP submitted a proposal to the Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee of the Saeima to gradually phase out Russian-language radio stations over an eight-year period. He criticized the head of the committee, Leila Rasima, for not including the issue on the agenda.

The head of the regulator urged lawmakers to "approach this issue from a state-minded position" and support the ban by stopping the use of public resources to fund Russian-language radio broadcasting.

"Latvia has transitioned to state-funded education exclusively in the Latvian language, and there are no arguments for valuable state resources to be spent on supporting a Russian-language information space in the commercial radio environment," Abolins emphasized.

As Ukrinform previously reported, television channels in Kyrgyzstan must increase the share of Kyrgyz-language broadcasting to 60%, as required by law.

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