In April Latvia stopped for three months the broadcasting of the channel Rossiya RTR because of the incorrect highlighting of the events in Ukraine. Currently Rossiya RTR has returned to the Latvian TV space, and many other Russian channels, both entertainment and information ones, are broadcasted in the Baltic countries. However, a member of Riga City Council, former minister of culture of Latvia, and former editor-in-chief of the biggest Latvian newspaper Diena (which means “day” in Latvian) Sarmite ELERTE considers that there are no reasons to be afraid of the influence of these sources on Europe. In May The Day spoke with Sarmite Elerte (“Information war allows saving on military means,” May 28, 2014, issue No. 36) about the ways a democracy can protect itself from aggression. At the moment the military stage of the conflict has aggravated in Ukraine, and the fight in the information field is growing fiercer. The Latvian politician told The Day how Europe can help Ukraine today.
Recently the broadcasting of the channel Rossiya RTR has been renewed in Latvia. What influence has it had on the local audience?
“The stoppage of broadcasting of the Russian channel for three months was rather a symbolical step. Those who take interest in some media will find them on the Internet. But Ukraine really needs to switch off the Russian channels.
“In Latvia we have to work on the counterpropaganda. At the moment a discussion on creation of a Russian-language channel to be broadcasted abroad is underway on the level of Baltic republics. Latvian social television is interested in making something of this kind. We are negotiating with the European Union on possible support on its side.
“We should have such a channel on the European level. Remember the influence made by the Radio Free Europe and the Voice of America. Of course, there was a different situation back then. There was propaganda and lies in the Soviet Union, like in modern Russia, but people back then did not believe them, unlike modern Russians.”
How can we make the Russians see the truth?
“The Kremlin has been developing its skills and now it is playing on the emotions of people. But as time passes, the difference between what propaganda says and reality people see will become so dramatic that everyone will understand where lie is. I remember the last years of the Soviet Union, when we were laughing at the reports on the mass media. I don’t believe that emotions thoroughly produced by the propaganda are long-lasting.
“On the whole, the events in Ukraine and the information war led by Russia have come as a surprise to Latvia. I can’t say we are ready for this situation, and I think we should be looking for the best solutions.”
As an experienced journalist, who has headed one of the most influential newspapers in Latvia, could you tell us what the correct way to highlight the military actions in Ukraine is?
“We shouldn’t fight propaganda with propaganda means. We are strong because we speak both about good and bad things. We should provide truthful facts and news, dispel lies. Of course, we should not reveal the military secrets. We should take seriously the phenomenon of trolling, when on the Internet someone is trying to influence a seemingly open discussion by aggravating the situation. It is important to understand that we are amidst of an information war.”
Is society in Europe, in particular in Latvia, ready to perceive this?
“I think so. All Latvian news portals have a Ukraine column. People in the Baltic countries understand how important and serious the events in Ukraine are. Your war is our war too.
“As for the varying attitude to Ukraine across Europe, you can explain it from looking at the map. Portugal, Greece, France, and Italy feel that they are far from the events. But the tragic moment connected with the Malaysian plane has had a great impact on Europe’s attitude to the situation in Ukraine. On the whole, you have good friends, these are the Baltic countries, Poland, and our voice is heard on the level of the EU and NATO.
“The Baltic countries look at Russia with great caution. We have a historical memory of our own, and we know what can be a result of this situation, and we assess it very seriously.”
