Russian law enforcement has opened a criminal case against Natalia Sindeeva, founder of the independent TV channel Dozhd, and its general director Mark Ten, TASS reported, citing law enforcement agencies. The case is based on Part 3 of Article 284.1 of the Criminal Code, which concerns organizing the activities of an 'undesirable' organization. The charge carries a sentence of two to six years in prison.
The 'undesirable' organization is the Dutch company TVR Studios B.V., registered on December 6, 2022. According to investigators, its activities constitute 'independent and objective coverage of all major events in Russia,' including the production and broadcasting of news and original programs.
Sindeeva is the founder and main shareholder of Dozhd. In April 2024, she handed over the post of general director to Mark Ten, who previously headed the sports website Sports.ru. Both are currently living abroad.
The Russian Justice Ministry designated Dozhd as a 'foreign agent' in 2021, and Sindeeva in 2022. In July 2023, the Prosecutor General's Office declared the TV channel an 'undesirable' organization.
Earlier, several Dozhd journalists were convicted in absentia in Russia. Editor-in-chief Tikhon Dzyadko was sentenced to eight years in a penal colony on charges of spreading 'fakes' about the army and violating the 'foreign agent' law; his wife Ekaterina Kotrikadze also received eight years; journalist Valeria Kichigina was sentenced to ten years; and presenter Valeria Ratnikova to seven and a half years. Sindeeva has not yet commented on the criminal case.