Russian language media in Latvia – Update 2026
There has been a lot of discussions around the closure of the popular Russian speaking station LR4 last year and the state of the Russian language media in Latvia. A good moment to catch-up with the most important and most popular Russian language news portals and radio stations in Riga and beyond the capital of the Baltic republic.
Popular Radio Stations in Riga and beyond
Riga has a lively and busy FM radio scene for Russian speakers. The stations are mostly run by big commercial media companies that focus on giving listeners a great mix of local updates, entertainment, and music. Major networks like Mix Media Group, SWH Group, and Skonto Media Group lead the market. They work hard to attract listeners by offering different styles of music and fun daily shows that fit the everyday lives of people in the city.
When it comes to what people listen to the most, upbeat music stations are the clear favorites. Top Radio is a huge hit, drawing a large audience with its energetic dance music and popular songs. It competes closely with EHR Русские Хиты (EHR Russian Hits), Radio SWH+, and Radio Skonto Plus, which are loved for playing a mix of new hits, older favorites, and fun morning talk shows. Listeners who love throwback tunes can easily tune into Retro FM for the best hits from the 70s, 80s, and 90s, or switch to Avtoradio for even more classic tracks. At the same time, Mix FM offers plenty of the latest pop music, giving audiences a great variety of choices to enjoy throughout the day.
Important Media Portals
Latvia’s Russian-language online news is mainly shaped by three important news sites.
Delfi is the biggest commercial news site in the Baltics. Its Russian-language version, rus.delfi.lv, is owned by the Estonian company Ekspress Grupp. Delfi gives Russian-speaking readers in Latvia news about Latvia and the world from a generally pro-European, pro-Western point of view. It also works against false information and pro-Kremlin propaganda.
TVNET, through rus.tvnet.lv, is Delfi’s main competitor. It is also owned by an Estonian media group, Postimees Grupp. Like Delfi, it follows a mainstream European editorial line and avoids pro-Kremlin messaging.
The third key source is LSM, the Latvian public broadcaster, through rus.lsm.lv. Unlike Delfi and TVNET, LSM is state-funded. It provides fact-checked public news and official information in Russian. Its Russian-language service is important, but it is also politically sensitive because Latvia continues to debate how much public media should be available in minority languages in the future.
