Estonia rose two places to 6th place in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index of Reporters Without Borders (RSF), BNS reports. Estonia scored 86.44 points on the index, which was up from 85.31 points in 2023. Latvia ranked 12th (16th) with 82.9 (83.27) points and Lithuania 13th (7th) with 81.73 (86.79) points.
The former editor of Russian propaganda channel Sputnik Lithuania, Marat Kasem (Marats Kasems), admitted that his job was to destabilise Lithuania, LSM reported. Kasem said that his work had nothing to do with journalism, but was pure propaganda under the direction of Russia’s presidential administration. He was recently released on bail from detention in Latvia….
The Baltic bank, Luminor, has appointed Wojciech Sass as its new CEO and board chairman, replacing Peter Bosek, The Baltic Times reports. Prior to his appointment, Sass served as CEO of Belgium-based Aion Bank. Previously, he has worked as CEO of Nationale-Nederlanden Poland, deputy board chairman of BNP Paribas Bank Polska, and head of Boston…
Estonian biomaterials company Fibenol plans to invest EUR 600-700mn in a biorefinery in Latvia, ERR reports. Fibenol’s pretreatment technology will convert locally-sourced wood into biomaterials that can replace fossil fuel-based chemicals in various industries. The company had initially intended to build the plant in Estonia. Fibenol’s owner, Raul Kirjanen, noted that countries rich in wood…
The number of job vacancies rose in Lithuania but dropped in Latvia and Estonia in 2023, BNS reported. The number of vacancies increased by 5.7% in Lithuania, but decreased by 6.1% in Latvia and 14% in Estonia. Out of the total number of jobs, both occupied and vacant, the share of vacancies stood at 2.7%…
Lithuanian farmers and grain processors are expressing increased concern over the import of Russian grain into the EU, LRT reports. Ausrys Macijauskas, chairman of the Lithuanian Grain Growers Association (LGAA), noted that 12mn tonnes of Russian grain was imported into the EU in 2023, including over 3mn tonnes via Latvia and Lithuania. Macijauskas said that…
Latvia’s national airline, airBaltic, posted an all-time record revenue and profit in 2023, LSM reported. The company’s annual turnover amounted to EUR 668mn, which was up 33.6% from EUR 500mn in 2022. The carrier’s net profit stood at EUR 34mn, which was up from a loss of EUR 54mn a year earlier. The company will…
The US ambassador to Latvia, Christopher Robinson, expressed concern about the potential for backsliding in Latvia’s fight against corruption, Baltic News Network reported. Speaking in an interview with TVNET, Robinson specifically highlighted Aivars Lembergs, the sanctioned former mayor of Ventspils, as a symbol of the dangers of returning to oligarchic influence. He said that the…
A court in Latvia’s capital, Riga, has arrested three suspects in an arson attack on the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia, LETA reports. The two men and woman arrested all have police records. Investigators suspect that the attack was motivated by hatred for the Latvian state and freedom, potentially influenced by Russia. The investigation…