Global Voices Online

Baltic writes on the political situation in Latvia - here and here.

Political cartoons from Latvia, at Baltic blog - here and here.

Viola in Vilnius writes that Riga has been nominated as one of the 2014 European capitals of culture, and comments on how this year’s title holder, Vilnius, has done so far.

Free Speech Emergency in Latvia highlights the case of a Latvian blogger who “harshly criticized the Latvian state and government as being little more than a rapacious mafia and has said in some posts that revolutionary violence against such a system would be justified” - and was later questioned by the Latvian Security Police.

Telecoms in Latvia reports that a Latvian cable TV and internet service provider “has hired a full-time employee to look after its interests on Twitter and other social networks”: “It asked that the letter of application be sent in tweet format, 140 characters. There were quite a few applicants.”

Baltic Economy Watch discusses EU's upcoming loan to save Latvia's economy and reflects on its conditions.

Gerhard Mangott discusses [GER] the recent letter by Central and East European leaders, warning the US of the consequences of a withdrawal from the region.

Free Speech Emergency in Latvia argues that a new government proposal to expand security police powers would increasingly limit the scope of civil liberties in Latvia.

Baltic Economy Watch speculates upon what new conditions the IMF has set for Latvia to receive new loans to avert the country's financial crisis.