''Sovetskaya Latviya'' (russian: Советская Латвия, lit=Soviet Latvia, ) was a major

Russian-language Russian (russian: русский язык, russkij jazyk, link=no, ) is an East Slavic language mainly spoken in Russia. It is the native language of the Russians, and belongs to the Indo-European language family. It is one of four living Eas ...

newspaper in the Latvian SSR. It was an official publication of the Central Committee of the

Communist Party of Latvia The Communist Party of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Komunistiskā partija, LKP) was a political party in Latvia. History Latvian Social-Democracy prior to 1919 The party was founded at a congress in June 1904. Initially the party was known as the Latvia ...

and the sister newspaper to the Latvian-language daily, '' Cīņa''. From 1969 onwards, it was also styled as an official organ of the

Council of Ministers A council is a group of people who come together to consult, deliberate, or make decisions. A council may function as a legislature, especially at a town, city or county/ shire level, but most legislative bodies at the state/provincial or nati ...

of the Latvian SSR as well.

History

1919, 1940–1941

The newspaper that became ''Sovetskaya Latviya'' was first published in 1940, following the Soviet takeover of Latvia, and the establishment of a monopoly on power by the Communist Party. During this first period, it was named ''Nasha Pravda'' (russian: Наша Правда, italic=yes, lit=Our Truth, 1919) and ''Proletarskaya Pravda'' (russian: Пролетарская правда, italic=yes, lit=Our Truth, 1940).Entry
Советская Латвия
' in the

Great Soviet Encyclopedia The ''Great Soviet Encyclopedia'' (GSE; ) is one of the largest Russian-language encyclopedias, published in the Soviet Union from 1926 to 1990. After 2002, the encyclopedia's data was partially included into the later ''Bolshaya rossiyskaya e ...

. The purpose of ''Proletarskaya Pravda'' was to replace the influential, independent Russian-language newspapers, such as widely read

liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * a supporter of liberalism ** Liberalism by country * an adherent of a Liberal Party * Liberalism (international relations) * Sexually liberal feminism * Social liberalism Arts, entertainment and m ...

Segodnya ''Segodnya'' ( rus, Сегодня, p=sʲɪˈvodʲnʲə, t=Today, a=Ru-сегодня.ogg) was a Russian-language Ukrainian tabloid newspaper founded in 1997. While run from Kyiv, it was linked to Donbass political and business groups; its hold ...

'' (Today), with a Soviet-controlled one. A literary journal with the title ''Sovetskaya Latviya'' appeared briefly in 1940–41, but only two issues (Dec. 1940 and Jan./Feb 1941) apparently saw light of day. This short-lived periodical seems to have been little-known even to the Latvian Communist Party Central Committee, as a protocol from a meeting on 2 November 1940 includes the resolution: "''Sovetskaya Latviya'' — clarify what kind of journal this is, as no-one has either seen it or read it." The invasion of the USSR and occupation of Latvia by

Nazi Germany Nazi Germany (lit. "National Socialist State"), ' (lit. "Nazi State") for short; also ' (lit. "National Socialist Germany") (officially known as the German Reich from 1933 until 1943, and the Greater German Reich from 1943 to 1945) was ...

in 1941 interrupted publication in Riga.

1944–1991 and after

In 1944, following the re-establishment of Soviet control over Riga and most of Latvia, the newspaper resumed publication in Riga under the name ''Sovetskaya Latviya''. ''Sovetskaya Latviya'' was a broadsheet that appeared daily, except Mondays. During the Soviet period, it dominated the Russian-language newspapers market in Latvia together with the Latvian Komsomol daily ''Sovetskaya Molodëzh (Soviet Youth). In 1975, its circulation was 107,500 copies. During the late 1980s, ''Sovetskaya Latviya'' expressed an editorial line critical of the movement for re-establishing Latvia's independence, reflecting the stance of the Communist Party leadership around

Alfrēds Rubiks Alfrēds Rubiks (russian: Альфред Петрович Рубикс, ''Alfred Petrovich Rubiks''; born 24 September 1935, in Daugavpils), is a Latvian communist politician and a former leader of the Communist Party of Latvia. He was a Member ...

. Following Latvia's regaining of independence from the USSR, in October 1991 ''Sovetskaya Latviya'' changed its name to '' Panorama Latvii'' (russian: Панорама Латвии, italic=yes, lit=Panorama of Latvia, ). The editorial line that harshly criticised the policies of the Latvian government was maintained, particularly concerning the treatment of

Russians in Latvia In Latvia, Russians have been the largest ethnic minority in the country for the last two centuries. The number of Russians in Latvia more than quadrupled during the Soviet occupation of Latvia when the size of the community grew from 8.8% of ...

. In 2002, the publisher has concluded an agreement on financial support with the Equal Rights party. ''Panorama Latvii'' ceased to be published in 2003.

References

{{Eastern Bloc media Defunct daily newspapers Defunct newspapers published in Latvia Eastern Bloc mass media Newspapers published in the Soviet Union Newspapers established in 1940 Publications disestablished in 1991 Russian-language newspapers published in Latvia 1940 establishments in Latvia 1991 disestablishments in Latvia

History

1919, 1940–1941

1944–1991 and after

See also

References