Alongside public media (Latvian Television and Latvian Radio), there are significant privately owned media, including the TV3 Group, the DELFI news site and the Baltic Centre for Investigative Journalism Re:Baltica, as well as local media. Several media outlets seeking more freedom have left Russia to settle in Latvia. Most TV channels and dozens of news sites based in Russia have been banned because of alleged violations of Latvian and European Union laws. 

Latvian media enjoy independence, and investigative and analytical journalism thrives, allowing the media to hold politicians accountable. Although state-held information is generally accessible, transparency has suffered from restrictions due to Russia’s war in Ukraine. The media regulator has been accused of lacking independence from the government. Certain decisions to ban media and some controversial government initiatives, such as the new national security doctrine, one of whose objectives is to stop the broadcasting of public media in Russian in 2026, demonstrate the increased influence of security services over media regulation. 

The legal framework guarantees freedom of the press, confidentiality of journalistic sources and access to public information. Journalists are not subject to censorship. In most cases, their representatives are involved in consultations on bills impacting their work. If the media are the target of legal action, the courts tend to rule in favour of freedom of the press. Ethical issues are handled by the Media Ethics Council, the Ombudsman of the Republic of Latvia and the public media’s mediator. The poorly justified decision in 2022 to withdraw the licence of TV Dozhd, a Russian TV channel in exile, fuelled concerns about the survival of Russian media in Latvia. 

Both private and public are faced with financial difficulties. At the local level, some have to compete with news outlets funded by the municipality, whose content is now more strictly controlled. Media ownership is generally transparent and does not raise concerns about market dominance, but greater diversity would promote media pluralism. Before elections, politicians regularly attempt to take over certain media outlets and discredit independent journalists. 

Media generally operate in Latvian and Russian. However, the pressure on the Russian-language Latvian press is increasing due to the war in Ukraine. Due to the revocation of broadcasting licences, the Russian-speaking population is left with fewer choices, and their access to information poses a real problem. Since the war in Ukraine, the circulation of fake news has increased and the overall trust in the media has declined.

Journalists generally work in a safe environment but can be targets of verbal attacks on the street and online. Although the police have signed a memorandum on the protection of journalists, there are concerns as to the effectiveness of its application. Political attacks on the media and attempts to discredit them are increasing beyond electoral campaigns.