Latvia, Legislation, Markets and Companies

The LAJ believes that this is yet another example how many media owners in Latvia perceive the media and journalists – as henchmen advertising them and working for their interests.

According to the LAJ, it is unacceptable for media owners to restrict the editorial independence of its staff. At the same time, it is also not acceptable for owners to use the media as a hidden weapon in gaining political influence or attempting to achieve some sort of economic influence.

In its statement, the LAJ calls on the editorial staff of Latvijas Avize not to remain quiet and inform the public on how the newspaper's owners are attempting to coerce them and discredit the editorial independence of the newspaper.

As reported, a threat to freedom of speech and journalism which we have not seen for many years has cast a dark shadow over the presidential vote, Saeima Speaker Inara Murniece (VL-TB/LNNK) believes, commenting the recent events taking place at the Latvijas Avize newspaper.

Murniece told LETA that the owners of the newspaper have begun to put pressure on its long-serving editorial chief Voldemars Krustins, and she has information that this is due to recent articles published by the newspaper on the upcoming presidential vote.

Murniece refrained from commenting which politicians or political parties have ''ordered'' the newspaper to be ''cleansed out'' of its editorial staff. However, she has been in contact with Krustins and the newspaper's editorial staff and intends to closely follow along the situation.

The Saeima speaker called on the newspaper's owners and supervisory board to respect the editorial independence of the newspaper and respect the trust the newspaper's readers have in it. ''I also call on them to respect media freedom principles, which is clearly stated in the Constitution,'' she said.

''I hope that the pressure against the newspaper's staff will cease, and its editorial staff allowed to continue their work with no meddling from the newspaper's owners,'' the politician said.

The owner of chairman of the board of joint-stock Lauku Avize, the company that owns the Latvijas Avize newspaper, is Ventspils businessman Olafs Berkis.