The scandal caused by ‘Dojd’ in Latvia. Who helps Putin?
On December 6, Latvia’s electronic media regulator Dojd, which is in exile, is independent Russia broadcasting license of the television cancellation did. The broadcasting of the channel will be stopped from December 8. As a reason, “national threat to security and public order” is indicated.
On December 2, the Latvian government closed the “Dojd” channel 10 thousand euros (10 thousand 500 dollars) fined. The reason is the channel of Ukraine occupied Crimea region Russia showing as the territory and Russia was that he called his army “our army”.
On the same day, the Latvian state security service is the host of the channel Alexey Korostelyovstarted an investigation regarding the statements he made online on December 1. Leading on-air audience military cases of violations of Russian laws during mobilization and committed in Ukraine military invited to share stories about crimes.
At that time, Korostelyov said: “We hope that we have also been able to help a lot of soldiers on the front lines with supplies.”
These incidents, which took place on the air of one of the most respected Russian-language media organizations, Latvia, Ukraine and in other countries, it has exhausted the patience of many people. Many argue that most opposition figures in Russia are consciously or unconsciously sympathetic to the Kremlin’s neo-colonial, imperialist impulses.
The supporters of “Dojd” criticize the removal of the license of the channel, which was removed from Russia, because it did not accept the Kremlin’s rhetoric about the attack on Ukraine. They say it is a blow to Putin’s victory and efforts to stop Russian aggression.
The management of the “Dojd” channel, known in English as “TV Rain” immediately fired Korostelyov and went into crisis mode.
“Dojd has never sent supplies to any army, including the Russian army,” – chief editor of the channel Tikhon Dzyadko he told “Nastoyasheye Vremya” on December 2.
However, all this was not enough to convince Latvian institutions. In their statement, Latvian government bodies said that the channel’s management “does not understand the importance and seriousness of the violations, and therefore the channel cannot operate on the territory of Latvia.”
“Dojd” broadcast social he says he will continue through the media and the Internet.
“Dojd” channel 2010It was founded in Russia with the motto “Nikbin Kanal”. Despite government pressure, it has been recognized as a serious, professional media outlet covering protests, corruption, dissent and other issues in the country. During the pressure before Russia’s attack on Ukraine in 2021, the Kremlin listed “Dojd” as a “foreign agent”. In March of this year, the channel was closed in Russia. The reason was the way he covered the war. It started working again in Riga in July.
These unpleasant circumstances surrounding the “Dojd” have exacerbated long-standing tensions between Russians in exile and citizens of the former Soviet republics.
A Latvian user on Twitter applauded the government for not “getting caught up in the ‘good Russians’ hysteria.”
“The idea that ‘Russia’s borders do not end anywhere’ is the idea of both the Vatniks (Putin supporters are meant – trans.) also warms the hearts of Russian liberals”, – wrote another critic of “Dojd” on Twitter. By the way, the phrase “Russia’s borders do not end anywhere” is a quote from Putin.
A Latvian nationalist Twitter account unearthed Dzyadko’s old post from 2014 and presented it as proof of Dojd’s imperialist leanings. In this post, Dzyadko sarcastically wrote: “Crimea, welcome to Russia!” However, at the same time, he shared a link to a video showing the Russian-appointed occupation government brutally dispersing protests in Sevastopol.
Another Twitter commenter called Dodge the “Trojan horse of the empire.”
Russian liberals, many of whom have left the country because they oppose Putin’s policies and fear arrest, say Latvia’s decision is in favor of the Kremlin.
“Today is Putin’s holiday. Lately, life has given him little reason to be happy. But today they’re popping champagne in the Kremlin.” – the jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalnyassistant of Leonid Volkov he says.
Navalny’s spokesman Kira Yarmish wrote these words:Revoking Dojd’s license helps Putin and does nothing to harm him.”
from Petersburg deputy Boris Vishnevsky A few days before this decision of Latvia, he wrote that canceling the license “would be a great gift to Russian propagandists”.
Chairman of the liberal “Yabloko” party for the Pskov region bordering Latvia Lev Schlossberg He called Riga’s decision “a populist reaction to the demands of the radical part of Latvian society, which calls for the complete de-Russification of the country’s media and politics.”
However, these arguments were met with protest.
Under Schlossberg’s post, one commenter wrote: “The point of this post is that Latvia is a desperate state that dares to make decisions without the permission of the ‘higher ups’. What is your offer? Come order-law will you create I do not support the closure of Dojd, but only because they are obliged to follow the laws of Latvia free they say. Your reaction betrays you.”
Russian journalist Julia Latina On Twitter, he tried to cover Latvia’s decision with allegations that the country accepts fewer Ukrainian refugees than small Estonia. Many commentators have questioned his numbers. Others criticized him for trying to lead Latvia.
“Citizens of refugee-producing countries blame others for accepting too few refugees. Pure Surrealism”, – one commenter wrote.