Under the amendments, television and radio channels with national status are required to broadcast in Latvian at least 65% of airtime.

The Parliament on June 16 approved a bill in final reading, but Latvian president refused to approve the bill and returned it for revision to the parliament with a demand to introduce similar restrictions in relation to regional broadcasters.

After completion, the amendments will be put back to a vote in Parliament in commissions.

Moscow believes that official Riga continues a policy of discrimination against Russian-speaking population.

This is stated in the commentary of the Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko.

“The amendments adopted by the Parliament of Latvia have demonstrated the commitment of the official line of Riga on discrimination of Russian-speaking population and the restriction of freedom of speech in general.

There is an attempt of Latvian authorities to return the “language quotas”, which were in force in the 90s of the previous century in this country and recognized illegal by the Constitutional Court on 5 June 2003, including the contradictions of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities”, – said Nesterenko last Tuesday.

Foreign Ministry spokesman expressed disappointment that the President Valdis Zatlers took part in this campaign.

“The head of the Latvian State referred the bill back for reconsideration by the Seimas not trying to bring it into conformity with international law, and to further tightening, in particular, by extending the requirements of broadcasts in the Latvian language in the evening, not only at national but also to regional media “, – said the diplomat.

According to Nesterenko, these actions of Latvian authorities confirm once again the propriety, concerning the rules of the Latvian law, repeatedly expressed by the Russian side, limiting the internationally recognized rights of national minorities, in particular in the areas of language use, and the validity of question by Russian side on the need to protect the rights and interests of Russian compatriots residing in this state in front of the Latvian side and international organizations.