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DE RUEHRA #0561/01 2081520
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INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 RIGA 000561 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM LG
SUBJECT: Are politicians trying to control the public media in 
Latvia? 
 
¶1. Summary: Recent developments in the news service of Latvian 
National Television (LTV), in particular the downgrading of the 
director of a weekly analytical and investigative news program "De 
Facto" to a lower-responsibility position, raise concern about 
seeming desire of some politicians to censor and control public 
media that criticizes the ruling coalition. This latest move follows 
other actions widely viewed as politicized attempts to control LTV 
news products. These speculations of political interference were 
further fueled by an interview with former-PM Andris Skele who said 
that "public media should reflect public opinion" and public opinion 
should mirror the outcome of the most recent elections -- in which 
his People's Party (TP) did the best. It is too early to call this 
an organized assault on the public media, but it is worrying and 
something that post will monitor closely as it develops. End 
summary. 
 
¶2. In June, the deputy head of LTV issued a decision to downgrade 
Arta Giga, director of the weekly analytical and inestigative news 
program "De Facto," for broadcasting an uncensored word and 
exceeding the show's time slot.  Giga has not accepted the downgrade 
and has appealed the administration's decision. The case will be 
reviewed by a dispute committee in the fall. 
 
¶3. Giga's downgrading raised concern of political experts and local, 
as well as international media organizations. The Latvian 
Association of Journalists published an open letter stating that 
"[Giga's] downgrade is one of the attempts to weaken and finally 
ruin the LTV news service made by the administration of the LTV over 
the last two years...it raises concern about possible political 
pressure on public mass media."  "Reporters Without Borders" also 
issued a statement saying, "We are very disturbed by this 
transfer... it is a disproportionate response to minor offences, one 
that seems to reflect an underlying desire to restrict investigative 
journalists' access to popular programs."  Latvian media and 
political experts also expressed concern.  Dita Araja, deputy 
editor-in-chief of the public policy portal www.politika.lv believes 
that "[these d]evelopments are [part of] a targeted campaign aimed 
at ruining independence of the news service, carried out, most 
likely, on behalf of the ruling political parties, as the news 
service is more uncomfortable for politicians and not the LTV's 
administration." 
 
¶4. This is not the first time there has been concern about political 
interference with LTV news service. In 2005, the National TV and 
Radio Council (nominated and approved by parliament) reproached LTV 
news service for producing "negative" news.  At the time, the head 
of the National TV and Radio Council Aivars Berkis (also member of a 
coalition party the Union of the Greens and Farmers (ZZS)) stated 
that "the nightly prime time news "Panorama" reports too many 
negative news stories, and in addition, journalists make their 
comments on these broadcasts."  A number of leading coalition 
figures, including influential Ainars Slesers, leader of Latvia's 
First Party (LPP) and Aivars Lembergs, Ventspils Mayor, currently 
under charges of corruption, have repeatedly voiced their deep 
dissatisfaction with being criticized by LTV' nightly prime time 
news "Panorama" and the weekly investigative/analytical "De Facto." 
 
 
¶5. More criticism of potential interference came in 2006 when the 
network administration replaced the head of the news service by a 
candidate not supported by the news service staff, leading to 
unhappiness among the staff. In February 2007, the deputy head of 
LTV suggested reorganizing the news service, in particular 
separating the weekly "De Facto" from the daily news (reporters 
currently work on both) without providing any additional resources. 
Although these plans were not approved, they were viewed as part of 
continued assault on the independence of LTV's news staff. 
 
¶6. A July 17 interview with former-PM Andris Skele in "Latvijas 
Avize" newspaper included a few statements on the role of the public 
media that prompted concerns about further attempts of the ruling 
coalition to control and censor the public media. In the interview 
Skele first states that public television has stepped beyond any 
limits, implying that public television was overly critical of the 
coalition's presidential candidate Valdis Zatlers . Further, he 
revealed his vision on the role of public television: "if you 
[public television] receive state funding, then you should broadcast 
views according to their proportion in the society... the most 
accurate mirror of proportions is the body of the recently elected 
parliament, consequently such and such time should be given to 
right-wing parties, such and such time to left-wing parties and such 
and such time to nationalists." Although Skele does not have any 
formal position in government or within People's Party (which 
received the largest number of votes ni the last election), he is 
among the key players in Latvian politics.  (Comment: It is 
important to note that his name has been mentioned in relation to a 
number of high level bribery and corruption cases investigated and 
reported by LTV's news service, particularly "De Facto.") 
 
¶7. Latvian polls consistently show that the public ranks television 
as the most trusted institution and source of information in the 
country.  By ratings, the most popular television news programs are 
 
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LTV's "Panorama" and "De Facto." "De Facto" earned its reputation by 
the disclosure and investigation of an alleged high-level 
bribery/vote buying case in the Jurmala City Council, where the 
names of influential politicians like Skele and Slesers were 
mentioned. For its work on this case "De Facto" and its team have 
received official recognition.  It was named best program in Latvia 
in 2006 and one of its journalists-anchors, Ilze Jaunalksne, 
received the State Department's Women of Courage Award for her fight 
against political corruption in Latvia. 
 
¶8. Comment. Over the last two years the ruling coalition has been 
criticizing the mass media, in particular LTV's news service, for 
not being "objective" when reporting on work of the government and 
parliament. That has been followed by several actions which balance 
on a thin line between state's authority to control its institutions 
and political interference. While politicians everywhere complain 
about unfair press coverage, the pattern of activity over the past 
two years, the recent downgrading of the head of "De Facto" and the 
press interview by Skele suggest that it is possible that the 
balance is tipping toward political interference.  Most likely that 
the situation will not change until the fall as summer holidays have 
slowed political and public life. However, new developments are 
expected in the fall when politicians and television return to their 
usual routine and Giga's case will be reviewed by the dispute 
committee. Post will continue to keep a close eye on developments in 
this area. 
 
BAILEY