The newspaper that became Sovetskaya Latviya was first published in 1940, following the Soviet takeover of Latvia, and the establishment of a monopoly on power by the Communist Party.
During this first period, it was named Nasha Pravda (Russian: Наша Правда, lit. 'Our Truth', 1919) and Proletarskaya Pravda (Russian: Пролетарская правда, lit. 'Our Truth', 1940).[2]
The purpose of Proletarskaya Pravda was to replace the influential, independent Russian-language newspapers, such as widely read liberalSegodnya (Today), with a Soviet-controlled one.
A literary journal with the title Sovetskaya Latviya appeared briefly in 1940–41, but only two issues (Dec. 1940 and Jan./Feb 1941) apparently saw light of day.[3] This short-lived periodical seems to have been little-known even to the Latvian Communist Party Central Committee, as a protocol from a meeting on 2 November 1940 includes the resolution: "Sovetskaya Latviya — clarify what kind of journal this is, as no-one has either seen it or read it."[4]
The invasion of the USSR and occupation of Latvia by Nazi Germany in 1941 interrupted publication in Riga.
1944–1991 and after
In 1944, following the re-establishment of Soviet control over Riga and most of Latvia, the newspaper resumed publication in Riga under the name Sovetskaya Latviya.[2]
Sovetskaya Latviya was a broadsheet that appeared daily, except Mondays. During the Soviet period, it dominated the Russian-language newspapers market in Latvia together with the Latvian Komsomol daily Sovetskaya Molodëzh' (Soviet Youth).[5] In 1975, its circulation was 107,500 copies.[2]
Following Latvia's regaining of independence from the USSR, in October 1991 Sovetskaya Latviya changed its name to Panorama Latvii (Russian: Панорама Латвии, lit. 'Panorama of Latvia', ISSN1407-3676). The editorial line that harshly criticised the policies of the Latvian government was maintained, particularly concerning the treatment of Russians in Latvia.[5] In 2002, the publisher has concluded an agreement on financial support with the Equal Rights party.[6]Panorama Latvii ceased to be published in 2003.