About the SourceLatvia’s electronic media authority NEPLP has revoked the broadcasting license of the independent Russian television channel Dozhd (Rain), the authority’s chief Ivars Abolins announced on December 6, Delfi reported.
He said that the decision was made with regard to national security and public order and after assessing a set of violations committed recently. These included the absence of an audio track in the state language (Latvian) for broadcasts, depicting Crimea on the map as part of Russian territory, the television presenter’s referring to the Russian army as “our army,” and the possible expression of support for the Russian army.
Information received from the State Security Service, the content of which Abolins does not disclose, was also assessed.
“After assessing the totality of violations, the NEPLP became sure that the management of the TV channel Dozhd is not aware of the significance and seriousness of the violations, so it cannot operate in Latvia,” said the head of the NEPLP.
The decision will take effect on the night of Thursday, December 8, when Dozhd must stop broadcasting in Latvia.
Russian TV channel Dozhd temporarily stopped broadcasting in March and later announced it is opening studios in Riga, Amsterdam, Tbilisi, and Paris.
“The TV channel will stop broadcasting on cable but will remain on YouTube. We continue to work and believe all accusations against us to be unfair and absurd,” Dozhd said on Twitter.
Given that Dozhd broadcasts its programs not only on television, but also on the Youtube platform, NEPLP will request that the Dozhd channel is geo-blocked on that platform from users in Latvia. “In Russia, they can broadcast freely on the Internet,” Abolins added.
“This decision shows that Latvia is a legal and democratic country that is open to the media, because Latvia has let in a large number of Russian-affiliated media outlets that can operate freely here. Only Dozhd TV channel was punished for breaking the law.” Abolins added.
The NEPLP decision can be appealed in court, and the Ministry of Interior and security agencies will make the final decision on whether Dozhd journalists can remain in Latvia, Abolins said.