Russia already drove TV Rain into exile. Now it’s coming for the two executives who kept the channel alive.

Russian prosecutors have initiated a criminal case against Natalya Sindeyeva, the board chair of TV Rain, and Mark Ten, the channel's CEO. The charges stem from allegations that they organized an undesirable organization, according to Russia's TASS news agency, citing law enforcement sources. If convicted, Sindeyeva and Ten could serve between two to six years in prison under Article 284.1 of Russia's Criminal Code.

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, TV Rain's broadcasts were blocked by the Russian authorities. In response, the channel's staff had to relocate, with the main studio now situated in the Netherlands. Sindeyeva established TV Rain, while Ten assumed the role of general director in April 2024.

The Russian Justice Ministry classified TV Rain as a foreign agent in 2021, and Sindeyeva was added to the foreign agent registry in 2022. Additionally, in July 2023, Russia's Prosecutor General's Office labeled TV Rain as an undesirable organization. Meduza, the source of this report, maintains transparency regarding its use of artificial intelligence in the newsroom.

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