On 25 July 2023, the Russian prosecutor-general’s office designated TV Rain, Russia’s largest independent TV channel, as an “undesirable” organization, effectively banning the channel’s operations in the country. The designation was formally handed to two companies registered respectively in Latvia and in the Netherlands, as TV Rain had closed its offices in Russia after the country adopted wartime censorship laws in March 2022. In their decision, Russian authorities claimed TV Rain “discredited” the Russian army and “disseminated false information” about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which according to Russian legislation is understood as publishing any war-related news not confirmed by the Russian government, which does not acknowledge responsibility in civilian casualties and in bombings of residential buildings.
Russians who are found to organize the activities of an “undesirable” organization face up to six years in prison, while readers who like or share an “undesirable” media’s publications face fines, or prison sentences of up to 10 years if their actions are repeated.