Former Dozhd TV presenter Alexei Korostelev may be banned from entering Latvia. The State Security Service of Latvia recommended that the Ministry of Internal Affairs include Aleksey Korostelev in the "black list", they said that they had evaluated the statements made on "Rain" in the program "Here and Now" on December 1, and came to the conclusion that they can be regarded as a call to provide material support mobilized Russian soldiers.
According to the Latvian State Security Service, Korostelev's statements on the air "create a false impression of the Russian army, encouraging public sympathy for the aggressors." Therefore, the department recommended that the Minister of Internal Affairs include Korostelev in the so-called "black list" of foreigners who are prohibited from entering Latvia.
Also, the state security of Latvia found out that the program was filmed in the editorial office of the TV channel in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. Korostelev permanently lives and works in Georgia. Since he does not have a residence permit in Latvia, he cannot be prosecuted in Latvia, according to Latvian media.
Korostelev was fired from the "Rain" after he uttered a phrase on the air about the supply of Russian mobilized. At the TV channel itself, Latvia revoked the license for television broadcasting. The CEO of Dozhd, Natalia Sindeeva, published a video message on December 6 in which she said that she regretted the dismissal of Korostelev and asked him to return to the channel, and also called back two employees who had left solidarity with the fired TV presenter.
The situation with the "Rain" The Insider was commented by the deputy of the Latvian Seimas Andrey Yudin. According to him, the channel associates itself with Russia, with a large country, and this "leaves its mark."
“If “Rain” is inconvenient for the Kremlin, and Latvia decides [to revoke the license], this does not mean that we are working hand in hand. For us [the inhabitants of Latvia] it is unacceptable that people, although not so clearly, continue to associate themselves with the country that attacked Ukraine and is waging a war of conquest. They chose the position: “We will speak loudly, we will be on the side of the world and against aggression, but sometimes we will allow ourselves something that causes mixed reactions.”
I don’t consider “Rain” evil, I believe that the editorial staff of “Rain” performs an important function and helps those who are able to think, but got lost, and helps someone to wake up and understand – and for this we thank them. But there is another audience that expects more from them – and this is what they cannot provide because they are stuck in their audience.