Otto Lacis
Encyclopedia
Otto Rudolfovich Latsis was a Soviet and Russia
n journalist
, of Latvian descent.
in 1956, Otto Latsis began working in a local newspaper, "Soviet Sakhalin
". His subsequent work at the newspaper "Экономическая Газета" (The Economic Gazette), began build Latsis' reputation as a prominent journalist. At the end of the Khrushchev Thaw
, he worked at Izvestia
, where he advocated for the loosening of censorship and sought to make the newspaper popular among the intelligentsia
.
His liberal views proved unpopular with authorities. Latsis was sent into a so-called "exile
of honour", that is, to work in a place where he would not have a platform to spread his ideas. He worked in Prague
for a magazine called "Problems of Peace and Socialism
", later at the Moscow
Institute of the Economy of the World Social System.
From 1987 to 1991 he returned to occupy an important position in the Soviet magazine "Communist"in theory, a magazine intended to be a vehicle for promulgating communist propaganda
, but which under Latsis spread the idea of perestroika
.
After 1991, he returned to work at Izvestia
. In 1997, because of a conflict with its new management, he left it to found his own newspaper, "New Izvestia." He subsequently moved to "Russkii Kurier
," and lastly, to "Moskovskiye Novosti
."
Latsis also wrote and presented papers at academic symposia.
and turning left at a crossroad, a jeep crashed into his car at a high speed. Otto Latsis and his grandson, as well as the woman who was driving the jeep and her two children, were hospitalized for treatment. Latsis lingered in a coma for more than one and a half months, but finally succumbed to his injuries. He died at 5 AM MSK on November 3, 2005, in Burdenko hospital in Moscow
.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, of Latvian descent.
Journalist career
After graduating from Moscow State UniversityMoscow State University
Lomonosov Moscow State University , previously known as Lomonosov University or MSU , is the largest university in Russia. Founded in 1755, it also claims to be one of the oldest university in Russia and to have the tallest educational building in the world. Its current rector is Viktor Sadovnichiy...
in 1956, Otto Latsis began working in a local newspaper, "Soviet Sakhalin
Sakhalin
Sakhalin or Saghalien, is a large island in the North Pacific, lying between 45°50' and 54°24' N.It is part of Russia, and is Russia's largest island, and is administered as part of Sakhalin Oblast...
". His subsequent work at the newspaper "Экономическая Газета" (The Economic Gazette), began build Latsis' reputation as a prominent journalist. At the end of the Khrushchev Thaw
Khrushchev Thaw
The Khrushchev Thaw refers to the period from the mid 1950s to the early 1960s, when repression and censorship in the Soviet Union were partially reversed and millions of Soviet political prisoners were released from Gulag labor camps, due to Nikita Khrushchev's policies of de-Stalinization and...
, he worked at Izvestia
Izvestia
Izvestia is a long-running high-circulation daily newspaper in Russia. The word "izvestiya" in Russian means "delivered messages", derived from the verb izveshchat . In the context of newspapers it is usually translated as "news" or "reports".-Origin:The newspaper began as the News of the...
, where he advocated for the loosening of censorship and sought to make the newspaper popular among the intelligentsia
Intelligentsia
The intelligentsia is a social class of people engaged in complex, mental and creative labor directed to the development and dissemination of culture, encompassing intellectuals and social groups close to them...
.
His liberal views proved unpopular with authorities. Latsis was sent into a so-called "exile
Exile
Exile means to be away from one's home , while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened with imprisonment or death upon return...
of honour", that is, to work in a place where he would not have a platform to spread his ideas. He worked in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
for a magazine called "Problems of Peace and Socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
", later at the Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
Institute of the Economy of the World Social System.
From 1987 to 1991 he returned to occupy an important position in the Soviet magazine "Communist"in theory, a magazine intended to be a vehicle for promulgating communist propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
, but which under Latsis spread the idea of perestroika
Perestroika
Perestroika was a political movement within the Communist Party of the Soviet Union during 1980s, widely associated with the Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev...
.
After 1991, he returned to work at Izvestia
Izvestia
Izvestia is a long-running high-circulation daily newspaper in Russia. The word "izvestiya" in Russian means "delivered messages", derived from the verb izveshchat . In the context of newspapers it is usually translated as "news" or "reports".-Origin:The newspaper began as the News of the...
. In 1997, because of a conflict with its new management, he left it to found his own newspaper, "New Izvestia." He subsequently moved to "Russkii Kurier
Russkii Kurier
Russkiy Kurier is a Moscow-based general interest daily newspaper founded in 2003 by Igor Golembiovsky,famous journalist who had left Novye Izvestiya....
," and lastly, to "Moskovskiye Novosti
Moskovskiye Novosti
Moskovskiye Novosti will be a daily newspaper in Russia to be relaunched in 2011.It was previously a long-established weekly newspaper aimed at an educated, elite audience. In 2005-2008 it was owned by Arcadi Gaydamak. It is published in the Russian language...
."
Latsis also wrote and presented papers at academic symposia.
Activities not related to journalism
- Under Mikhail GorbachevMikhail GorbachevMikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev is a former Soviet statesman, having served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 until 1991, and as the last head of state of the USSR, having served from 1988 until its dissolution in 1991...
, he was a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party. - Under Boris YeltsinBoris YeltsinBoris Nikolayevich Yeltsin was the first President of the Russian Federation, serving from 1991 to 1999.Originally a supporter of Mikhail Gorbachev, Yeltsin emerged under the perestroika reforms as one of Gorbachev's most powerful political opponents. On 29 May 1990 he was elected the chairman of...
, he was one of his advice councilors. - He was a member of the jury of the award "For Journalism as Deed" (За журналистику как поступок).
- He was a member of the public commission investigating Russian apartment bombingsRussian apartment bombingsThe Russian apartment bombings were a series of explosions that hit four apartment blocks in the Russian cities of Buynaksk, Moscow, and Volgodonsk in September 1999, killing 293 people and injuring 651. The explosions occurred in Buynaksk on 4 September, Moscow on 9 and 13 September, and...
.
Death
On September 10. 2005, while Otto Latsis was driving his PeugeotPeugeot
Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion...
and turning left at a crossroad, a jeep crashed into his car at a high speed. Otto Latsis and his grandson, as well as the woman who was driving the jeep and her two children, were hospitalized for treatment. Latsis lingered in a coma for more than one and a half months, but finally succumbed to his injuries. He died at 5 AM MSK on November 3, 2005, in Burdenko hospital in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
.
Opinions on Otto Latsis
- "Otto was one of the most talented Russian journalists. He was among people who could stick to their beliefs and do not abolish them when they are forced to. <...> He combined the excellent knowledge of economy and the ability to write so that his articles were clear to everyone. Besides, he was writing amazingly quickly. I was always impressed with his ability to write a great article in 1.5 hours." --Yegor GaidarYegor GaidarYegor Timurovich Gaidar was a Soviet and Russian economist, politician and author, and was the Acting Prime Minister of Russia from 15 June 1992 to 14 December 1992....
- "He was a talented analyst of economy and an excellent journalist. Besides, he always helped our department and students. After all, he was a fine man." --Yasen Zasurski, Dean of the Department of journalism in Moscow State University