According to Latvia, Dožd has supported Russia in many of its broadcasts, has not subtitled its content in Latvian, and has financed terrorism.
14:48•Updated 15:54
Tuesday was a sad day for the Dožd television channel, which represents Russia’s independent media. In the morning, the Latvian Communications Council announced that it would withdraw the TV license from the channel. Submissions end the day after tomorrow, December 8th.
Chairman of the Latvian Communications Council By Ivars Abolins according to Dožd has committed many violations of the law.
“Due to the threat to national security (the regulatory authority) has made a decision this morning that the license of the Dožd television channel will be revoked,” Abolins said. According to him, the decision to revoke the permit protects Latvians.
A news site that reads like an independent media Meduza (you will switch to another service) interviewed the founder and CEO of Dožd Natalja Sindejeva immediately after the decision. Sindejeva said that she did not sleep last night because of the decision.
According to him, there was no proper discussion with the Latvian authorities.
– To be honest, we didn’t try to negotiate with anyone. All these discussions were open… I don’t know, we make decisions. I wasn’t ready for that. I was sure that they (Latvian authorities) would not do it, Sindejeva told Meduza.
According to Sindejeva, many things should have been done differently, and the journalist who showed the map of Crimea, who made a mistake, should not be fired.
– I regret everything now. We did a lot of stupid things.
He estimates that Dožd will lose about 20 percent of its income due to the loss of the license. However, according to Sindejeva, leaving Latvia is difficult.
Doždi’s editorial team fled Russia to Latvia at the beginning of March after Russian authorities blocked the channel’s operations.
Map of Crimea and equipment for Russian soldiers
According to Latvia, Dožd has supported Russia in many of its broadcasts. Among other things, it has shown in its broadcast a map where the Crimean peninsula has belonged to Russia. The Dožd in Latvia was recently fined 10,000 euros for this.
The channel is also blamed for the lack of subtitles in Latvian.
The regulatory authority has launched an investigation together with the safety authority of Latvia into the operation of the channel.
Doždi is suspected of being guilty of financing terrorism by urging his audience to buy equipment for Russian soldiers at the front.
According to Dožd, revoking the business license is “unfair and absurd.” Dožd editor-in-chief Tihon Džjadko according to the channel does not support the Russian army in any way.
The channel continues its broadcasts on the YouTube service. Latvian authorities have asked YouTube to block the channel from being shown in Latvia.
In Russia, the TV channel’s instincts were mocked on Tuesday.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the cancellation of the license of the television channel in Latvia is an indication of the “false illusion” that abroad is better and freer than in Russia.
Source: AFP, Reuters