OSCE Representative says freezing Latvian magazine’s assets threatens media pluralism
VIENNA, 1 August 2014 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today expressed concern about a Latvian court decision to freeze the assets of Ir, a public affairs magazine, based on a pending damage claim for libel.
“I welcome Latvian Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma’s call on the court to justify their decision and to dispel concerns about pressure on the independent media,” Mijatović said. “Freezing assets of a media outlet may threaten its existence and is a disproportionate response. As a result, media pluralism can be negatively affected.”
According to reports, on July 31 the Riga Central District Court issued an order freezing assets worth almost €23,000 of the magazine’s publisher, Cits Medijs. The court order followed the filing of a civil lawsuit by insolvency administrator Maris Spruds who claimed that he had been libelled in investigative articles published by the magazine.
“I hope taking this extraordinary measure will not set a dangerous precedent to silence media voices,” Mijatović said.