Watchdog launches more Russia Today investigations
● Total number of inquiries up to 11 after Salisbury poisoning attack
British fighter jets and warships have responded to Russian military activity near the UK more than 160 times since 2010.
The figures reveal a dramatic increase in naval movements.
The Royal Navy was activated in response to Russian ships on 33 occasions last year, compared to just once in 2010.
The naval activity is partly linked to Moscow’s involvement in the conflict in Syria, which has seen Russian warships travel through the Strait of Dover en route to the eastern Mediterranean.
Royal Navy ships were activated in response to Russian navy vessels approaching UK territorial waters on 103 occasions between 2010 and 2017.
There were 20 occasions in 2016, 14 in 2015, 11 in 2014, 12 in 2013, eight in 2012 and four in 2011. Broadcasting watchdog Ofcom has opened three new investigations into a Kremlinbacked TV channel following the Salisbury poisoning case.
This brings the total number of open investigations into RT, formerly Russia Today, from eight to 11. An Ofcom spokeswoman said the further investigations were looking into “the due impartiality of news and current affairs programmes broadcast” on the channel.
One of the new investigations is regarding a segment on current affairs programme Crosstalk. The others will be assessing two news broadcasts that aired across April and May.
Crosstalk is being assessed over a segment that focused on the dynamics of the ongoing Syrian conflict and the US foreign policy in Syria.
One of the news broadcasts is being assessed over its reporting of the Ukrainian government and its position on Nazism and the treatment of Roma Gypsies, while the other was focused on fracking in the UK and the reported treatment of anti-fracking activists by UK authorities.
The regulator will look into whether each of these three broadcasts offered sufficient balance for viewers on each topic. The latest investigations following a flurry of condem-
0 Alex Salmond has been under fire for his RT show nation of former First Minister Alex Salmond’s involvement with the Russian network.
Mr Salmond has repeatedly defended his right to host a show on RT following calls from British MPS to close the channel down.
He said in March that Prime Minister Theresa May’s expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats should not include pressure to close RT
“No one has tried to influence the content of this show in any way, shape or form,” Mr Salmond said in March.
A spokeswoman for RT said: “We note the new investigations by Ofcom and will work with the regulator through its processes.” Ofcom last month said since the Salisbury nerve agent attack of former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia it had “observed a significant increase in the number of programmes” on the channel that should be investigated.
“Until recently, TV Novosti’s overall compliance record has not been materially out of line with other broadcasters,” Ofcom said of the company that broadcasts RT.
“However, since the events in Salisbury, we have observed a significant increase in the number of programmes on the RT service that warrant investigation as potential breaches of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code. “We will announce the outcome of these investigations as soon as possible.” Other programmes already under investigation include two broadcasts of a show called Sputnik hosted by George Galloway.
Ofcom also previously announced it would consider whether the TV channel should broadcast in the UK if Russian involvement was proven in the poisoning in Salisbury in March.
The regulator previously said it had written to RT to explain that evidence of unlawful state interference would affect whether it was deemed “fit and proper” to hold a broadcasting licence.