Latvia: Court upholds regulatory decision to cancel TV Rain’s license

An administrative court in Latvia has upheld the decision of the National Electronic Mass Media Council (NEPLP) to annul the broadcasting license of the independent Russian TV channel, Dozhd (TV Rain), TVNET reports. Dozhd announced that it would appeal the ruling in all instances, including in the European Court of Human Rights if necessary. Dozhd insisted that it respected Latvian laws, arguing that the channel was not a threat to national security or public order. Earlier, one of Dozhd’s TV hosts said that the channel had helped send equipment to Russian occupation forces in Ukraine, which the host called “our army.” The channel later refuted the statements and fired the host.