Russian prosecutors are investigating an independent television station for its coverage of two major opposition rallies in Moscow late last year.
The Moscow Prosecutor's Office said on February 16 that the station, Dozhd TV, was being investigated to determine who financed the channel's live broadcasts of the December 10 and December 24 rallies.
The probe was initiated by a State Duma deputy from the ruling United Russia party.
The mass rallies were part of a wave of public demonstrations against suspected fraud in December parliamentary elections and ahead of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's anticipated win in a presidential vote next month.
The Dozhd TV investigation comes days after the liberal Russian radio station Ekho Moskvy saw its
management board dissolved in what it said was punishment for its critical reporting on Putin.
Compiled from agency reports