Salmond’s Russian-backed chat show is not for Sturgeon

NICOLA STURGEON has criticised Alex Salmond’s decision to host a chat show on a Kremlin-funded TV channel saying she would not have chosen to do so.

Ms Sturgeon said she had not been asked about the deal, and if she had been she would have advised against his appearance on the RT channel, formerly known as Russia Today.

Critics said Mr Salmond’s move was “embarrassing and shameful” and it beggared belief that the man who led Scotland for seven years should be reduced to “Putin’s puppet”.

The Alex Salmond Show will air on a Thursday, starting next week, and is billed as a mixture of current affairs and “friendly explorations” of his guests’ personalities. Ms Sturgeon said she was sure the show would make interesting viewing but added: “However, his choice of channel would not have been my choice. Of course, Alex is not currently an elected politician and is free to do as he wishes – but had I been asked, I would have advised against RT and suggested he seek a different channel to air what I am sure will be an entertaining show.

“Neither myself nor the SNP will shy away from criticising Russian policy when we believe it is merited.”

In 2014, Salmond provoked controversy by saying he admired aspects of Mr Putin’s leadership for the way he had restored Russia’s national pride.

The show will be produced by Mr Salmond’s own Slainte Media company, which he set up with Tasmina Ahmedsheikh, the former SNP MP.