{"id":29362,"date":"2022-12-10T18:34:14","date_gmt":"2022-12-10T17:34:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english.cpnn-world.org\/?p=29362"},"modified":"2022-12-10T18:35:14","modified_gmt":"2022-12-10T17:35:14","slug":"meduzas-statement-regarding-the-revocation-of-tv-rains-latvian-broadcasting-license","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english.cpnn-world.org\/?p=29362","title":{"rendered":"Meduza\u2019s statement regarding the revocation of TV Rain\u2019s Latvian broadcasting license"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION<\/p>\n

An article from Meduza<\/a><\/p>\n

The Latvian National Electronic Media Council has revoked TV Rain\u2019s license. The agency has banned the network from broadcasting on cable and also plans to block access within the country to its YouTube stream. According to the council\u2019s chairman, Ivars \u0100boli\u0146\u0161, the decision was made \u201cin connection with the threat to national security and public order.\u201d<\/p>\n

(Editor’s note: Regular readers of CPNN will know that Meduza and TV Dozhd – “TV rain” in Russian – were two of the independent Russian media that reported opposition to the war in Ukraine <\/a> and were therefore banned in Russia and forced to move abroad in order to keep broadcasting.)<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
\nLogo of TV Rain<\/a>
\n<\/center><\/p>\n

We are watching these developments very carefully and with concern.<\/p>\n

In the eight years that Meduza has already spent in Latvia, the local authorities have never once attempted to interfere in our editorial policies. We are grateful for this hospitality. We have had no reason to doubt that Latvia, which has become a second home for many here at Meduza, is aware of the vital role that the independent media plays in democratic societies.<\/p>\n

After February 24, Latvia welcomed journalists from Russia who risked many years in prison for doing their jobs and resisting the war Russia unleashed on Ukraine. We greatly appreciated the Latvian authorities\u2019 decision, understanding how difficult it was, given the enduring pain this country\u2019s people still experience from Soviet occupation.<\/p>\n

At the same time, we recognized that a mass influx of journalists from Russia in wartime conditions would likely lead to conflicts. After all, the news media created by Russians is almost always focused on Russian problems, viewing the surrounding world through this same lens. This often confuses and sometimes enrages foreign audiences, especially during a war for which Russia bears full responsibility.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, the situation has developed very poorly. We believe that the decision by Latvia\u2019s National Electronic Media Council to revoke TV Rain\u2019s license is unfair, wrong, and disproportionate to the official violations flagged by the agency.<\/p>\n

Arguments that these violations pose a \u201cnational security threat\u201d are unconvincing. The network\u2019s antiwar position is obvious, as is its critical stance towards the Putin regime. TV Rain\u2019s significance in countering Russian state propaganda is colossal. Roaring about \u201cnational security\u201d conceals what is actually a heavy blow to free speech and ultimately to European security, as well. There can be no democracy without the independent media, above all, and an undemocratic Russia will remain a threat to its neighbors and the entire world.<\/p>\n

Even if it was reached completely legally, the National Electronic Media Council\u2019s decision is also an incredible gift to the Russian authorities. By banning TV Rain, Latvian officials are helping the Kremlin with something it started: the complete destruction of the Russian independent media\u2019s infrastructure. We believe the political situation in Russia will not change if the country\u2019s inhabitants are abandoned to propaganda. (There\u2019s also the risk that this propaganda becomes the only information source for Russian-speaking EU citizens.)<\/p>\n

And it\u2019s important to remember that TV Rain is one of the few truly independent media outlets that retains a large audience inside Russia. Viewers need TV Rain. The anti-war movement needs TV Rain. Watch any of its newscasts, and you\u2019ll see the network\u2019s position on this repulsive war and how it views those who illegally usurped power in Russia.<\/p>\n

Were TV Rain\u2019s journalists wrong? Was their wording inaccurate? Yes. But all media outlets, including the highest quality publications, make mistakes, even at critical moments. In times of war, forced emigration, and polarized public opinion, the likelihood of mistakes sadly only grows. Readers and viewers, as well as fellow colleagues, evaluate our reporting, too, and these assessments can be brutal.<\/p>\n

Journalism knows no boundaries. Free speech is a universal value, but it\u2019s nothing if we don\u2019t defend it and fight for it, every day, wherever we are.<\/p>\n

We stand in solidarity with the team at TV Rain. Dear colleagues, we hope you\u2019ll persevere, and we\u2019ll do our best to help you through this crisis.<\/p>\n

Meduza invites other journalists and media outlets to support this statement. If you\u2019d like to do so, please contact us here: requests@meduza.io.<\/p>\n

(Continued in right column)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Questions related to this article:<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n 
\n Can the peace movement help stop the war in the Ukraine?<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

(Continued from left column)<\/p>\n

This statement has been signed by<\/p>\n

the editors of Meduza
\nthe editors of Novaya Gazeta Europe
\nSab\u012bne S\u012ble, editor-in-chief, Media Hub Riga
\nthe editors of Bumaga
\nthe editors of Provereno
\nthe editors of Novaya Vkladka
\nIrina Malkova and Pyotr Mironenko, The Bell
\nthe editors of Kit
\nthe editors of Signal
\nthe editors of Samizdatonline.org
\nthe editors of Pskovskaya Gubernia
\nthe editors of Sirena
\nthe editors of Proekt
\nthe editors of Dovod
\nthe editors of DOXA
\nthe media project Stradayuschee Srednevekovye
\nthe editors of Mediazona
\nthe editors of iStories
\nthe editors of OVD-Info
\nthe editors of Avtozak Live
\nKonstantin Sonin, economist
\nNikolay Ovchinnikov, journalist; editor-in-chief, Volna | Latvia
\nvandrouki.ru, a travel company
\nthe editors of Svobodnye Media
\nthe Telegram channel Russian Refugees in Germany
\nVictor Shenderovich, writer
\nStanislav Kucher, journalist
\nthe editors of Rezonans, a Vladimir-based Internet publication
\nValeriy Panyushkin, editor-in-chief, Spektr magazine
\nthe Student Anti-War Movement project
\nKonstantin Gorozhanko, editor, Grazhdane Gdovskogo Kraya
\nthe editors of Vot Tak
\nthe editors of SOTA
\nIlya Azar, journalist
\nthe editors of Verstka
\nthe editors of Republic
\nthe podcast studio Libo\/Libo
\nthe editors of 7×7 \u2014 Horizontal Russia
\nthe editors of Kholod
\nthe editors of Astra
\nIlya Krasilshchik, Alexander Polivanov, Igor Safonov, and other journalists at Sluzhba Podderzhki
\nthe editors of Spektr
\nMikhail Zygar, writer and journalist
\nOlga Churakova, journalist
\nLiza Surganova, journalist
\nIlya Shepelin, journalist
\nthe editors of Echo
\nthe editors of RusNews
\nthe editors of Pereulki Lissabona
\nthe editors of Skat Media
\nArkady Mayofis, founder of TV-2 (Israel)
\nEmil Khalikov, co-founder of Pogulyanka media (Lithuania)
\nthe editors of Cherty
\nthe Opyt Svobody project
\nLev Ponomaryov, human rights advocate, and the Telegram channel World Progress and Human Rights
\nthe editors of Perm 36.6
\nthe editors of Perito
\nMine g\u00e5ter og spindelsinn, a Telegram channel
\nthe editors of Khroniki.Media
\nthe editors of Daptar
\nthe editors of The Vyshka
\nthe editors of Media Loft
\nthe youth democratic movement Vesna
\nthe editors of Groza
\nMikhail Svetov and the editors of SVTV News
\nthe editors of Pezduza
\nTalking Heads YouTube channel (Latvia)
\nthe editors of Advocacy Street
\nthe editors of Lyudi Baykala
\nthe editors of Otkrytyi Gorod (Latvia)
\nthe editors of February 24 Eyewitnesses
\nthe editors of Govorit ne Moskva
\nthe editors of It\u2019s My City
\nthe editors of The Guide to the Free World
\nthe editors of The Insider and Roman Dobrokhotov, journalist
\nYevgenia Albats, editor-in-chief, The New Times
\nthe editors of The Moscow Times
\nKirill Rogov, political scientist
\nIrina Shikhman and the YouTube channel A Pogovorit?
\nthe editors of Re:Russia
\nConflict Intelligence Team
\nthe editors of Prodolzhenie Sleduet
\nthe editors of Novaya Gazeta \u2014 Baltia
\nKsenia Larina, journalist
\nthe editors of The Village and Kirill Rukov, editor-in-chief
\nthe editors of Fergana.ru
\nMaxim Katz, blogger and politician
\nthe editors of Khronika Turkmenistana
\nNavalny LIVE YouTube channel
\nJean-Michel Shcherbak, media activist
\nIshchem Vykhod YouTube channel
\nAlexander Plyushchev, journalist
\nTatyana Felgenhauer, journalist
\nVitaly Mansky, film director
\nNatalia Manskaya, film producer
\nthe editors of Poligon.Media
\nKhodorkovsky LIVE YouTube channel
\nIlya Rozhdestvensky, journalist
\nIvan Pavlov, lawyer
\nIlya Zhegulev, journalist
\nthe editors of Fourth Sector
\nIlya Shumanov, director, Transparency International Russia
\nAndrei Loshak, journalist
\nNataliya Gevorkyan, journalist
\nthe editors of ROMB
\nthe editors of Taiga.info
\nthe editors of Popular Politics
\nRoskomsvoboda, an advocacy organization
\nChulpan Khamatova, actress
\nAntero Mukka, editor-in-chief, and the editors of Helsingin Sanomat (Finland)
\nthe editors of Krautreporter (Germany)
\nPervyi Otdel, an association of attorneys and rights activists
\nthe editors of Agentura.ru
\nMasha Phillimore-Slonim, journalist
\nKovcheg and Anastasia Burakova, founder
\nAndrey Pivovarov, political prisoner
\nthe editors of NewArmenia.am and Garik Chilingarian, editor-in-chief
\nThe European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
\nMR7.ru (St. Petersburg) and Elena Mikhina, editor-in-chief
\nPolina Shilina, journalist, Delfi (Russian edition, Latvia)
\nClownstan Today
\nthe editors of Discourse
\nthe editors of Serditaya Chuvashiya
\nthe editors of RSh and Maria Karlin, editor-in-chief (Switzerland)
\nthe editors of Hromadska Pravda (Ukraine)
\nRussian Libertarian Party
\nOBC Transeuropa (Italy)
\nKometa News (Moldova)
\nthe editors of Telegi i Memasy Telegram channel
\nSt. Petersburg Human Rights Center
\nthe Moscow branch of Memorial, a center for human rights and historical education
\nSergey Lukashevsky, director, Sakharov Center
\nSvetlana Gannushkina and Grazhdanskoe Sodeystvie, a non-profit foundation
\nthe editors of Russians Against the War Telegram channel (Poland)
\nRussian Independent Media Archive
\nRussian Canadian Democratic Alliance (RCDA)
\nIrina Kizilova, journalist, co-organizer of Memorial Israel
\nArtem Liss, former editor, BBC World Service
\nDmitry Elagin, film critic, Snob
\nKristina Lunina and Kak Poluchitsya media
\nRimma Polyak, columnist, Republic
\nAlexey Durnovo, writer and journalist
\nAndrey Novichkov, editor-in-chief, Fronde TV and Nastuplenie na Nasledie
\nEfim Neizvestny, contributor, Panorama
\nLidia Ageeva, journalist
\nNatalia Galkina, journalist
\nOleg Ivanov, photo-journalist
\nVadim Kondakov, journalist
\nAndrey Rebrov, journalist
\nOlga Leontyeva, journalist
\nthe editors of Equality Telegram channel
\nIvan Slobedenyuk, journalist, Belsat
\nAnastasia Sechina and Chetvyortyi Sektor media
\nMaria Latsinskaya, journalist
\nOleg Basalin, journalist
\nNikolay Kandyshev, journalist
\nVictor Yukechev, journalist
\nBoris Tukh, journalist and film critic
\nthe editors of TJ ne umer! satirical news
\nArtem Androsov, news host, RTN (New York)
\nAfanasy Emelyanov, journalist
\nAlexander Gerasimov, journalist
\nAnton Chernin, journalist
\nIvan Fedosov, blogger
\nPyotr Kozlov, journalist
\nVijai Maheshwari, journalist, Politico Europe
\nMark Novikov, journalist
\nDenis Cherdov, journalist
\nVasily Zakharko, journalist
\nSofia Epifanova, journalist
\nKirill Alexeyev, author, Analiteg Telegram channel
\nSemyon Zelenovich, journalist
\nAngela Kalsynova, YouTube blogger
\nIlya Kozin, journalist
\nZIMA Magazine (London)
\nthe editors of Oni za Voynu
\nthe editors of Pravda o Voyne
\nThe Voice of Reason movement
\nDmitry Tolstosheyev, journalist
\nEvgeny Galitsky, journalist
\nNina Abrosimova, journalist
\nElena Samoylova, journalist
\nVera Vasilyeva, journalist
\nIvan Makridin, journalist, podcaster
\nLev Kadik, journalist
\nRuslan Totrov, journalist
\nApolitichnost Gubit, a social movement
\nthe editors of Russky Kovcheg Telegram channel
\nthe Vornadzor anti-corruption movement
\nDima Zitser, teacher
\nthe editors of Echo of Petersburg (banned in Russia) and Ischem Vykhod, a YouTube channel
\nAlex Dubas, journalist
\nZygmunt Dzieciolowski, journalist (Poland)
\nObyektiv YouTube channel
\nWarsaw Local Anti-War Committee Telegram channel
\nDozor v Volgograde project
\nThe Polycrates Foundation
\nAlexander Artemyev, human-rights advocate
\nDmitry Bayandin, attorney
\nArseny Lytar, member, Russian State Duma Committee on Science and Education
\nIlya Furman
\nMaria Klementyeva
\nPolina Shubentseva, activist and volunteer, Memorial
\nAndrey Yakimovich
\nDmitry Simanovsky
\nLinur Arslanov
\nVadim Dmitriyev
\nMikhail Biryukov, attorney
\nDmitry Gerasimenko
\nSergey Kovalchenko
\nMaria Kabysh, costume designer
\nTimofey Andropov and the Ochnis movement
\nLena Pylaeva and FreeRussiaNL
\nOlga Chernykova, former faculty member, Moscow State University
\nAlina Gnatyshina and Rossiya Buduschego (Switzerland)
\nSergey Losev
\nAlexey Shmelev
\nSergey Galin
\nEkaterina Komissarova
\nNikolay Matrosov
\nIlya Bobrik
\nAlisher Artykov
\nZhanna Shchukina
\nIgor Naginer
\nAlexey Volkov and the Canadian Russian Association Telegram channel
\nOlya Kazimirchuk
\nSonya Blade
\nJoseph Malkin
\nShimon Glazshteyn
\nProtokolnaya Redaktsiya project
\nIvan Romanov
\nElena Kvasyuk
\nGeorgy Sushilin
\nOlga Degtyareva
\nPaul Robertus
\nElena Lukyanova, attorney
\nTimofey Ilyushin, human rights advocate
\nNikolay Golikov, artist
\nAlexander Kabanov, professor, University of North Carolina
\nKirill Povarov
\nIrina Karpova
\nIrina Sokolovskaya
\nMila Zemtsova
\nAndrey Kotov
\nJulia Ioffe, journalist (United States)
\nLolita Roze (Latvia)
\nMihail Gokhman (United States)
\nGreg Dolgopolov (Latvia)
\nJuris Raudulis (Latvia)
\nLev Mendelson (United States)
\nMichael Mamontov (United States)
\nEleonora Scheerseu (Germany)
\nArtur Heidt (Germany)
\nMarks Lisnanskis (Latvia)
\nDmitrijs Krup\u0146ikovs (Latvia)
\nDmitri Gouz\u00e9vitch, historian (France)
\nHerta Hansena
\nKonstantin Kabanov
\nTatiana le Roy (Belgium)
\nLaure Thibonnier (France)
\nGennadi Kreps (Germany)
\nNatalia Kuzmina (Germany)
\nAssociation for Solidarity with Civil Society and the Development of Democracy in Russia, Russia of the Future (Spain)
\nthe editors of Lenizdat.ru
\nPenguin Travel YouTube channel
\nAiza Dolmatova, rapper
\nRuslan Sokolovsky, blogger
\nthe Iskra media training team
\nthe KermlinRussia project team
\nthe Smorodina: for Democracy in Russia association (Norway)
\nOleksandr Tsyba
\nAndrey Lukashevich
\nVadik Sirekanyan
\nOleg Ponomarev
\nSofia Gribkova
\nAlex Zatsman (United States)
\nMykola Shpylchin
\nMarina Polishuk
\nVladimir Yurovsky, conductor (Germany)
\nOlga Deryabina
\nDmitry Cherne
\nNatalia Telegina
\nVitaly Bovar
\nMaria Gabisov
\nSofia Pulver
\nNikita Petrashen
\nLyudmila Kasa (Latvia)
\nVladimir Rayevsky, journalist and television host
\nFyodor Pavlov-Andreevich, artist and curator
\nand many other journalists and editors.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION An article from Meduza The Latvian National Electronic Media Council has revoked TV Rain\u2019s license. The agency has banned the network from broadcasting on cable and also plans to block access within the country to its YouTube stream. According to the council\u2019s chairman, Ivars \u0100boli\u0146\u0161, the decision was made \u201cin connection … Continue reading Meduza\u2019s statement regarding the revocation of TV Rain\u2019s Latvian broadcasting license<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[75,15],"tags":[33],"class_list":["post-29362","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-europe","category-information","tag-europe"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/english.cpnn-world.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29362","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/english.cpnn-world.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/english.cpnn-world.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english.cpnn-world.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english.cpnn-world.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=29362"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/english.cpnn-world.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29362\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/english.cpnn-world.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=29362"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english.cpnn-world.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=29362"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english.cpnn-world.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=29362"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}