it creates significant and in many cases unequal competition in the Latvian information space. In order to develop a favourable public opinion, the Russian Federation uses a wide variety of instruments that are specifically created for different audiences. These instruments include various television and radio stations of the Russian Federation that retransmit content created in Russia. The work of the Russian Federation is made easier by poor journalistic sources available in the Russian language because the Russian speaking population in the Republic of Latvia is more dependants on the information provided by Russia; the tendencies observed in the last few years also indicate this trend. Additionally, the Russian Federation plans to implement several specific projects developed to increase influence in the television and radio industries, as well as the Internet environment; such measures would extend not only within the territory of the Republic of Latvia, but also within other European countries. The public opinion in the Republic of Latvia is being influenced by providing several messages that can change in regard the respective target audience. These messages include efforts to develop a positive opinion about the Russian Federation. This message is complimented by another message indicating that the Western world is experiencing an economic crisis and degradation of values. A notion that NATO will not be able protect Latvia in the case of external threats is artificially developed in the society of the Republic of Latvia, as well as a notion that EU has not been able to ensure economic growth and prosperity in Latvia. Using various messages, in long-term distrust to the Republic of Latvia, its officials, state institutions, and politicians is established, thus widening the gap between the society and state, as well as increasing the psychological insecurity about the possible future. The influence of external threats on the information space of the Republic of Latvia is very effective because it interacts with several internal factors. They include the ethnic composition of the Republic of Latvia, different languages used in families, as well as the use of the mass media by middle age and older people that is also partially brought over to the youngest generation. The information space of the Republic of Latvia is still devided in two specific parts – information in the Latvian language and information in the Russian language. The efficiency of the Russian Federation within the information space of the Republic of Latvia is increased due to accessibility of the Russian mass media and the fact that a large part of the society prefers to use them as the primary information source. A part of the audience, including Latvians, is still used to watch Russian television channels because they form a big section of channel packages available to the clients.

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