Kremlin-backed TV news channel Russia Today has had its broadcasting licence revoked by British authorities this morning. The move, which is another step towards isolating Russia culturally, comes as airstrikes were reported in Ukraine’s western city of Lviv.
Ofcom, the broadcasting regulator, says it took the decision after 29 investigations were launched into its parent-licensee — ANO TV Novosti — over the impartiality of its coverage of the ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Putin’s troops.
In a statement, the regulator said ANO was being investigated seperately to determine if it was ‘fit and proper to retain its licence to broadcast’.
A statement released by the regulator on Friday (March 18) said: “We consider the volume and potentially serious nature of the issues raised within such a short period to be of great concern – especially given RT’s compliance history, which has seen the channel fined £200,000 for previous due impartiality breaches. READ MORE: P&O Ferries issues statement as 800 workers laid off amid losses of £100m “In this context, we launched a separate investigation to determine whether ANO TV Novosti is fit and proper to retain its licence to broadcast.” The freedom of expression is ‘something we guard fiercely in this country’, Ofcom boss Dame Melanie Dawes added.
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