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On the morning of December 6, Latvian authorities revoked the broadcast license of the only independent Russian news channel TV Rain, which has been banned in Russia since March. 

For years TV Rain has been a hugely important source of independent information about Russia, fighting against Putin’s propaganda. It is crucial today precisely because of its reporting on the Russian invasion in Ukraine. 

In March Rain had to relocate from Moscow to the EU to continue their work and to protect their journalists.

Latvia's National Electronic Mass Media Council (NEPLP) said that the network poses a “threat to national security and the public order.”

The decision was made against the backdrop of a heated public debate sparked by an ambiguous on-air statement made by TV Rain host Alexey Korostelev about the war in Ukraine. The host misspoke for which he later apologized. 

Everyone makes mistakes, and mistakes are particularly possible for any organization which works in a survival mode - like TV Rain.

I know it first had as a campaigner and a person who ran organizations through uncertain political times.

We are calling on the Latvia's National Electronic Mass Media Council to reverse their decision and reinstate the broadcasting license to TV Rain. 

The TV Rains journalists are honest and brave, often detained and prosecuted for their work. 
 
The Latvian authorities are giving out a generous gift to Putin by shutting the channel down.