Russian opposition politician Alexey Navalny, currently serving time in the Vladimir region’s Melekhovo penitentiary, has expressed support for TV Rain, the broadcasting licence of which had been previously revoked by Latvia’s authorities. Navalny’s statement was posted on his Twitter account.
“I find the decision of Latvian authorities to revoke Dozhd’s [TV Rain’s] license wrong and based on a lack of information. Of course, Latvia is free to make any decisions in the interests of its citizens, and I don’t think they see a threat in a media outlet whose host made an on-air slip,” he writes.
Navalny also refers to TV Rain as an honest and independent media outlet that he has been working with since its inception. The politician says that he admired the work conducted by the TV channel that “condemned Putin’s war against Ukraine”.
“I have faith in the European democracy and judicial system, and I have no doubt that in the end a fair decision will be made with all factors taken into account,” he concludes.
On 1 December, TV Rain host Alexey Korostelev said on air, “We hope that we could help many service members, particularly with equipment and just basic convenience on the frontline.” Later, editor-in-chief of TV Rain Tikhon Dzyadko said that the channel did not, is not, and would not help out the Russian army with equipment, on the frontlines or beyond.
Korostelev was fired. As a sign of support, TV Rain host Margarita Lyutova, journalist Vladimir Romensky, and the channel’s employee Darina Lukutina said that they would stop their collaboration with the channel.
Latvia’s media regulator, National Electronic Mass Media Council (NEPLP), fined TV Rain €10,000 and later revoked its broadcasting licence. Latvia’s State Security Service recommended the Minister of Internal Affairs to put TV Rain’s ex-host Alexey Korostelev on the list of people banned from entry to Latvia.
Yesterday, 6 December, TV Rain’s CEO Natalia Sindeeva asked Korostelev and other journalists who had quit after his firing to come back to work.
Earlier today, the Radio and Television Commission of Lithuania (LRTК) reported that TV Rain would no longer be able to continue broadcasting in Lithuania due to its licence having been revoked.
