'The Kremlin has always targeted our society' Latvian justice minister Inese Libina-Egnere | DW News

The Latvian justice minister has defended her country’s measures counteracting Kremlin propaganda against critics who call those measures an infringement of the freedom of speech. In an interview with DW, Inese Libina-Egnere said about the closure of Russian TV channels in Latvia: “After the attack in Ukraine started, everyone understood that we have to ban the channels. But before there was always a fight: That's freedom of speech.”She told DW “harassment, violation of human rights, violation of human dignity, falsification of history” does not constitute a “variety of views. That's actually using the freedom of speech against the democracy.”

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[yayhandles]

"Freedom of speech being used against freedom of speech."

Great way of putting it. Much love for Latvia!

[spartahill]

It's refreshing to hear critical-thinking leaders articulate and address the issues affecting their constituents and their country's broader security.

[din]

Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia are admirable in their resistance to Russian influence and conquest. They are so small and close to Russia yet do everything they can to not become Russia.

[Worldaffairslover]

If some people in Latvia love Russia so much, they can leave. It’s very close

[samuelurban]

I lived under russian occupation 23 years. Never again!!!!

[artursbondars]

Quoting: "was part of Soviet union." Why not state the fact, that Latvia was brutally occupied?

[sensi]

Russia says its winning - but Russia is losing its war on the Ukrainian people at every possible level there is to lose. Russia is losing Politically, Militarily, and Economically - Putin is no longer feared and civil war is brewing as various factions fight for power. Putin tried to break up Ukraine but ends up collapsing the Russian Federation...The Irony 😂😂

[annehersey]

As an American, I wish my country would adopt Latvia's take on Free Speech-as she said; 'Free speech comes with some rules'! Since the US has become the breeding ground of conspiracy theory after conspiracy theory and even the head of our country has been perpetuating with some of his followers
The Big Lie about a rigged election when there was none, I would like to see the US courts realize that free speech must come with some rules!

[JH-pvrd]

Go brothers and sisters! Sending loads of love from Lithuania ❤️

[sitechca]

What's wrong with the reporter? Teaching Latvian in schools in Latvia is an issue? Then how about Germans schools not teach German then.

[johnpapworth]

Great nation and looks like its been run by decent people too!

[Ian.]

Love Latvia. I lived in Riga for a month on holiday from Australia. But I did find some of the people unfriendly and reserved. That possibly could be a leftover from the Russian influence.

[foilhat]

I hope Kaliningrad can get its independence like Belgorod did.

[Ukie]

It’s amazing that russian citizens living so close to these free independent states can not see the forest for the trees. Sure, they were soviet at one time, but look at what it got them. Now, do the russian citizens feel more free themselves???

[annehersey]

This teaching in different languages is absurd. You live in a country you learn in that language unless you send your kid to a private school that does NOT get State Funds! You INTEGRATE society. Russian speakers living in Latvia are Latvians with Russian heritage! That is Eastern Europes problems, other countries in Western Europe don't teach in different languages.

[franceslock]

The US would be less divided if they learnt from the Baltic states and fought misinformation online.

[charlesjenner]

The purpose of those Russian channels is to sow discord in Latvia.
The answer is that there should be a Russian-speaking community capable of transmitting both news and high Russian culture without going through the Kremlin. Perhaps some countries with strong Russian-speaking communities should do this, including Ukraine. It would be appropriate to create Russian-speaking channels in the Baltic countries and Ukraine, which could satisfy the needs of the Russian-speaking population which is not under the Kremlin's control. These channels can be made available in Russia too.

[netgnostic]

Good. The russian RT "news" propoganda channel was removed from Canadian TV channel packages. People can still watch it online though.

[gregwhitford]

Lock little man Putin up for the rest of his life!

[diazvirdani]

*Russia🇷🇺 still occupied oblast Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhia, Kherson, Crimea.*
Russia must end occupation & keep peace!