Latvia has revoked the broadcast licence of the Dozhd (Rain) TV channel, created by Russian journalists who moved to Riga after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine began. The decision was made by the Latvian National Electronic Mass Media Council.

Ivars Abolins, head of the National Council, said that the decision was made in the interests of "state security and public order," as Tvnet Latvian news outlet reports.

Dozhd broadcasting on YouTube will also be blocked in Latvia. The National Council will request geo-blocking of the Dozhd channel on YouTube so that the channel's content cannot be accessed in Latvia.

Previously Dozhd stated that they deleted a segment of a program where a host talked about "helping" the Russian military, and stopped cooperation with the host himself.

Latvian National radio and television board fined Dozhd for 10 thousand euros for displaying a map on which the TV channel designated the occupied Crimea as part of Russia, and called the Russian army "ours."

State Security Service of Latvia (VDD) has launched an investigation with regards to the statements that Dozhd TV channel made on air and that raised suspicions that the TV channel was assisting the servicemen of the Russian occupation forces.