The Chair of the Public Media Council (SEPLP), Sanita Upleja-Egermane, called the cessation of linear broadcasting of the Russian-language Latvian Radio 4 an inevitable and correct step, urging the audience to switch to Latvian radio stations.
The head of the Council expressed her opinion regarding the cessation of broadcasting on Latvian Radio 4: "For the last 30 years, we have had a dual-community society, living in two separated spaces. At some point, this had to stop. The Russian aggression against Ukraine in 2022 finally prompted this decision. We all live in one country, we have common problems and interests, and we must communicate in a unified space. When we are divided, we do not fully understand each other."
The head of the Council hopes that most listeners of Latvian Radio 4 will not seek a replacement in Russian propaganda media, but will start listening to radio in the Latvian language, LSM+ reports.
She also thanked the employees of LR4. "I want to thank all the staff of Latvian Radio 4 for their work. I understand that there will be people who will lose their jobs, and this is a difficult moment. But this decision was made in the interest of our entire state and society," she concluded.
It was previously reported that as a result of structural changes in LSM, including the abandonment of Russian-language broadcasting, 36 employees will be laid off. Russian-language content will become exclusively digital, and 70% of the materials will be translations from Latvian.
