We need permission
The President of the Latvian National Media Council, Ivars Abolins, stated on his social media that Dozhd, a channel now listed as a foreign agent by Latvia’s Justice Ministry, was fined 10,000 euros for presenting a map on air that depicted Crimea as part of Russia. Abolins noted that the map portrayed Crimea as Russian territory, which led the broadcast to be described as showing the Russian army as their own. He characterized this as the second serious violation to date.
According to Abolins, three serious violations could prompt the council to revoke a television station’s license to broadcast. In response, Latvia’s defense minister, Artis Pabriks, tweeted that the TV channel staff should have their leave revoked so they would remain in the country. He later clarified that the process had already begun.
RIA Novosti reported that Ekaterina Kotrikadze, Dozhd’s head of information, announced that the channel had ceased cooperating with presenter Alexei Korostelev, who had publicly stated on air that he would assist Russian soldiers. Kotrikadze described the presenter’s comments as inaccurate and completely unacceptable to the entire editorial team. She added that language that could create suspicion about the station’s stance would not be tolerated. Although the decision to end Korostelev’s collaboration was difficult, it was presented as the only appropriate course of action.
Kotrikadze argued that the comments gave the audience the false impression that Dozhd was delivering equipment to the Russian army, a misrepresentation the channel aimed to avoid.
Absolutely Censored
Vladimir Solovyov, head of the Russian Union of Journalists, told socialbites.ca that he viewed the channel’s firing of the presenter as anti-Russian censorship. He claimed that Dozhd had attempted to stay neutral and present multiple viewpoints while in Latvia, but once relocated, the channel shifted to a stance he described as overtly anti-Russian.
Solovyov argued that much of the Russian press in the Baltic states faces significant restrictions, with many writers imprisoned. He suggested that a neutral position could not survive there, whereas Dozhd continues to operate in Latvia in a way that resembles Meduza, another outlet listed as a foreign agent by the Justice Ministry. He implied that this reflects the positions of Dozhd’s peers and colleagues.
The journalist also contended that Latvia’s fine for the map and Korostelev’s remarks amounted to censorship and demonstrated heightened hostility toward Russia. In Solovyov’s view, Dozhd should maintain neutrality or refrain from taking a stance altogether. If there were any deviation, he argued, penalties would follow.
Solovyov further suggested that it was unlikely Dozhd would be banned for errors in Latvia because overseas owners of the network would not permit such a move. He referenced a regional concept associated with the post-October Revolution era in Russia and implied it would not permit loss of control. He projected that Dozhd staff members would probably not return to Russia.
On August 20, 2021, Latvia’s authorities added Dozhd to the register of foreign media organizations. Several Dozhd employees were later listed as foreign agents. Following Russia’s military operation in Ukraine beginning in March 2022, Russian prosecutors asked to restrict access to Dozhd’s information resources. Dozhd resumed broadcasting from a Riga studio on July 18, 2022.