Latvian State Security Service (VDD) has assessed the footage from TV Rain programme Šeit un tagad [Here and now] featured on the channel on the 1st of December. VDD recommends the minister of the interior to blacklist the programme’s host Aleksei Korostelev and ban him from Latvia, as confirmed by the service.
The host of Here and now Aleksei Korostelev mentioned the heavy losses suffered by the Russian army multiple times throughout the programme. He also invited providing them will equipment and food, VDD concluded. What he said indicates that TV Rain compiled information about these problems in an effort to help resolve them.
Despite the explanations provided by representatives of TV Rain later, VDD stresses it is unacceptable for information that invites people to provide support to Russian occupation forces to be distributed in Latvia. The attacks performed by Russian armed forces and violence towards Ukrainian civilians are recognised as acts of terrorism, and Russia itself – a state sponsor of terrorism by European member states and most western countries.
VDD stresses that, considering the aforementioned reasons, the service believes
the statements made during the programme are aimed against Latvia’s national security and create a misleading impression of the Russian army, motivating residents to sympathize with the aggressor.
On the 5th of December VDD submitted its report on the statements made by a host of TV Rain programme to the National Electronic Mass Media Council (NEPLP). BNN previously reported that NEPLP has decided to annul TV Rain’s broadcasting licence.
More on this topic: Latvia annuls TV Rain’s broadcasting licence due to threats to national security
VDD uncovered that the 1st December footage for Here and now programme was filmed at TV Rain office in Georgia. The host of the programm lives and works in Georgia.
Since Korostelev does not have a residence permit in Latvia, he cannot be criminally prosecuted in Latvia. At the same time, VDD recommends blacklisting Korostelev and banning him from entry to the country.
VDD has also warned TV Rain editor in chief Tikhon Dzyadko for the criminal liability in the event of criminal acts.
VDD reminds that directly or indirectly passing any kind of financial or other kind of aid to a side involved in a war outside of the Republic of Latvia, if this side’s actions are aimed at breaching other countries’ territorial integrity or political independence is against the international law binding to the Republic of Latvia and is therefore criminally punishable.
TV Rain director general Natalia Sindeyeva recently revealed she was not prepared for Latvian authorities annulling the channels broadcasting licence. She was convinced Latvia would not do it. In an interview to Meduza, which is also based in Latvia, Sindeyeva admitted she has no idea what to do now.
«I wasn’t prepared for this. I was convinced they [Latvia] wouldn’t do this,» she said in an interview, adding that what happened is a result of multiple factors. She did not comment the situation in detail.
Now that the licence is gone, TV Rain will be removed from Latvian and other countries’ cable networks, which will cause financial problems for TV Rain, said Sindeyeva.