According to Ivars Abolins, head of the Latvian National Electronic Media Council, the management of the TV channel was unaware of the seriousness of each violation.
“Due to the threat to national security and public order, NEPLP decided this morning to revoke the broadcasting license of Dozhd TV” (the organization was included in the list of foreign agents by the Ministry of Justice), Abolins wrote.
The decision will come into effect on the night of 8 December, from that day the TV channel will have to stop broadcasting in Latvia. Considering that Dozhd broadcasts its programs not only on TV, but also on YouTube, the Council will request the geo-blocking of the channel on this platform so that the content cannot be used in Latvia.
NSESMI’s decision can be appealed.
Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov described the situation on the TV channel as an example of false illusions that a place is better and freer than in Russia.
“It always seems to someone that a place is better than home, and it always seems to someone that there is freedom somewhere, but there is no freedom in the house. This is one of the clearest examples of the fallacy of such illusions, Peskov told reporters.
The misfortunes of “Rain”
The troubles of the channel began in early December. There were three reasons for the claims of the Latvian authorities. In the first case, the TV channel showed the map of the Russian Federation, including the Crimea, and in the second case, a reservation from the presenter Alexei Korostelev, who said live that Dozhd helped Russian soldiers. Baltijas Balss broadcast also reported that the broadcast of the TV channel may be suspended due to the lack of an audio track in the national language.
At the broadcast of the Here and Now program on December 1, Alexei Korostelev requested that information be shared with the channel about the problems of Russian military personnel, saying that “we hope many military personnel, for example, with equipment and simple basic amenities at the front.”
Ekaterina Kotrikadze, head of Dozhd’s information service, apologized to the audience, calling this statement erroneous and unacceptable for the channel. She also said that her cooperation with Korostelev has been terminated.
“Therefore, some of our viewers got the impression that the channel is sending equipment to the Russian army. This is not true. Dozhd TV channel did not, does not, and will not do so in the future,” he said.
In addition, the editor-in-chief Tikhon Dzyadko (known in the Russian Federation as a foreign agent) apologized for the false statement of the presenter. He said on his Telegram channel that the editors cut out a piece from the replays and recordings of the broadcast with Korostelev’s explanation.
“I made accusations, I did not seek murder”
According to Korostelev, his words were misunderstood and taken out of context.
“I made a mistake in the air, I’m ready to be fired to fix the channel’s problems” <…>, but I did not directly or indirectly call for murder. I have never called for killing or buying money for war for any army in the world. “I do not accept a crime against humanity,” he said.
Korostelev noted that he did not call for funds to be raised for ammunition for Russian military personnel, and that his support consisted solely of addressing the problems of the Russian soldiers in the air.
“I don’t send money from the Russian army for helicopters or even socks, and I didn’t call for that,” said the host.
Korostelev noted that he regretted his mistake and thanked Dozhd’s management for their eight years of work.
The host was supported by his editorial colleagues, and after his dismissal, the hosts Margarita Lyutova and Vladimir Romaniansky announced their resignations.
“Just as people have the right to make mistakes, they also have the right to express themselves publicly before being fired. Whatever the underlying issues, his dismissal seems to me a huge mistake,” Lutova wrote on Facebook (the owner of Meta was considered an extremist and banned in Russia).
Romaniansky explained on his Telegram channel that he was responsible for the issue that led to his firing, for Korostelev “sitting in his ear as editor-in-chief.” Mission orders to put the badge and pistol on the table. I do like that too. Rain, Queen Mother, but you made a terrible mistake. “They threw themselves under the bus,” he wrote.
“Rain” losses
As the general director of the TV channel Natalya Sindeyeva said in an interview with Meduza (the organization is included in the list of foreign agents by the Ministry of Justice), the cancellation of the Latvian license deprives the TV channel of all cable broadcasting, not just Latvian. From this, the company will lose about 20% of its revenue.
He noted that the channel did not try to negotiate with the Latvian authorities, as he was sure that their licenses would not be taken away from them. He also described Korostelev’s dismissal as a bad decision made under the influence of emotions. “It seemed to us that it was a complete nightmare in every way, everyone would turn away from us – Ukrainians, Latvians … Actually, that’s what they did,” he said.
He also noted that the possibility of relocating employees from Latvia is currently being discussed. “We’ve been thinking about this for a long time,” Sindeeva said.
where now
On December 4, RT, citing sources close to the general director of the TV channel Natalia Sindeeva, said that the possibility of Dozhd’s relocation to Georgia is being considered.
It is alleged that consultations with lawyers are currently underway. RT noted that the editorial office already has a studio and a ready technical base in Tbilisi.
Sindeeva said in an interview with RBC on December 6 that the channel plans to acquire a new license in another country.