Netherlands licenses exiled Russian TV channel

A channel that moved to Latvia after Russian authorities blocked its broadcasts for critical coverage of the war in Ukraine was banned after accusing Latvia of violating local laws.

“TV channel Dozhd has obtained a European broadcasting license, granted by the Dutch media regulator for five years,” the network said on messaging app Telegram.

“This means that Dozhd may return to the cable network that was cut due to license revocation,” said the network.

Dozhd moved the editorial office to Amsterdam and said the studio there “will become the main studio as soon as the employees get their work permits in the Netherlands”.

However, Latvia remains the “most important” country for the channel in terms of editorial strategy, so it will keep some staff in Riga.

Latvia had accused Dozhd, which was set up in 2010 as Russia’s main opposition TV station, with multiple offenses for allegedly aiding Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine.

The channel was also accused of displaying the annexed Crimea as part of Russia and failing to ensure a Latvian translation.

Dozhd plans to challenge the Latvian authorities’ decision to revoke the license.

“We will protect our reputation after working in court for the past 13 years.

However, we will not seek the return of the Latvian license.

Dozhd previously dismissed the accusations as “unfair and ridiculous” and said he would remain on YouTube.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, fears of an invasion from Moscow have grown in neighboring Latvia, which has been part of the Soviet Union for decades and where a quarter of the population speaks Russian. I’m here.

The Latvian government had evacuated TV Rain, and by mid-July the show had resumed and was blocked in Russia in early March.

Several other newsrooms have also found refuge in the Latvian capital, Riga, including Novaya Gazeta Europe and Deutsche Welle’s Moscow branch.

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