Muristek
Vehicles of Russian state-controlled broadcaster RT are seen in Red Square in central Moscow, Russia, March 18, 2018. — Reuters pic
Follow us on Instagram and subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates.
LONDON, March 18 — Britain’s broadcasting regulator today revoked the licence of Russia’s state-funded television channel RT, in the latest international repercussion for Moscow after its invasion of Ukraine.
“Ofcom has today revoked RT’s licence to broadcast in the UK, with immediate effect,” it said in a statement, adding that the channel was not “fit and proper” to operate in the country.
The move follows a similar ban issued by the European Union earlier this month as Western nations seek to punish Russia for its war in Ukraine.
The pro-Kremlin channel has been taken off the air in the UK in recent weeks following the EU’s action, because satellite companies based in Europe provide the RT feed to British platforms.
But Ofcom had not revoked its licence until Friday.
The regulator said it made the decision amid 29 ongoing investigations into the “due impartiality of RT’s news and current affairs coverage of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine”.
“We consider the volume and potentially serious nature of the issues raised within such a short period to be of great concern,” it adding, noting the channel also had a history of compliance issues.
Ofcom has previously fined RT £200,000 (US$263,000, €238,000) for past due impartiality breaches.
The licence ban will prompt fears of reprisals by the Kremlin against British broadcasters still operating in Russia, including the BBC and Sky News. — AFP