Russia’s Ministry of Justice has included the TV channel Dozhd (‘Rain’) in the list of media outlets termed “foreign agents”.
According to Sostav, quoting the Rai Novosti agency, Dozhd received more than R3.7 million (€42,554) from foreign companies and organisations since at least 2016.
They included Zimin Projects Ltd, registered in Malta; the UK’s Stonex Financial Ltd; French Fondation D’enterprise Sanofi ESP, SA ING Belgium, and US funds Charles Stewart Moti Foundation and MacArthur Foundation.
It adds that Dozhd insists it has been working in full compliance with Russian legislation and all sources of its funding are known.
It intends to appeal the decision and to carry on working as before.
Being declared a “foreign agent” could result in Dozhd being forced to close. The channel currently operates behind a paywall and may find it difficult to find sponsorship and advertising.
