The Ministry of Communications continues to assess the possibility of terminating state support for the delivery of press in the Russian language 0 5

The agency explained that the issue of revising the delivery of subscription press in the Russian language is included in the informational report prepared by the ministry on the provision of universal postal service (UPS).

Currently, the report is in the coordination stage, so it is not yet available on the portal of regulatory acts.

After the report is reviewed at a Cabinet of Ministers meeting, an assessment of all factors affecting the UPS is planned, including state support for the delivery of subscription publications in the Russian language.

As previously reported, the Ministry of Communications, in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, plans to assess the possibility of terminating state support for the delivery of subscription publications in the Russian language — this is stated in the informational report of the Ministry of Communications, which the government took note of in November last year.

The report indicates that the possibility of changing the current regulations regarding payment conditions for the delivery of subscription publications is being considered, providing support from the state budget only for the delivery of those publications that are published in the official languages of the European Union (EU).

According to data collected by the Ministry of Communications, in the first half of last year, 9.3% of all delivered subscription publications by the enterprise JSC "Latvijas pasts" were published in the Russian language. During the specified period, Latvijas Pasts delivered 5.735 million copies of subscription publications, and the amount paid from the state budget for the provision of the delivery service amounted to 4.331 million euros, including VAT.

Of this amount, 403,495 euros — that is, the same 9.3% — accounted for the delivery of publications in the Russian language.

The protocol decision of the Cabinet of Ministers stipulates that the Ministry of Communications, in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, will assess the possibility of changing the conditions for providing state support for the delivery of subscription printed publications.

It is planned that state support may be provided only for subscription publications published in the state language, as well as in the historical variant of Latvian — the Latgalian written language — and in the language of the indigenous people of Latvia — Livonian. Support may also continue for publications in the official languages of EU member states, the European Economic Area, Switzerland, candidate countries for EU membership, or in the official languages of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).