The general director of the Dozhd TV channel, Mark Ten, has been sentenced in absentia to five years in prison.

The court has sentenced the general director of the Dozhd TV channel, Mark Ten, in absentia to five years in prison for organising the activities of an “undesirable organisation” (part 3 of article 284.1 of the Russian Criminal Code). Dozhd reports this, citing the Moscow prosecutor’s office.

According to the prosecution, Ten continued to run Dozhd after the Prosecutor General’s Office declared all channel structures “undesirable” in Russia.

Dozhd also writes, citing law enforcement agencies, that one of the reporting documents describes the channel’s activities as “independent and objective coverage of all major events in Russia,” broadcasting daily news and original programmes, as well as distributing content via the internet, mobile applications and Smart TV.

A criminal case against Ten and Dozhd founder Natalia Sindeeva was initiated in August 2026. In September, both were arrested in absentia. On 28 October, the Presnensky District Court of Moscow began to consider Sindeeva’s case under the same article.

Dozhd was classified as an “undesirable organisation” in July 2023. Mark Ten became head of the channel in April 2024.