Russia accused of creating ‘fantasies’ over Salisbury

britain has accused russia of creating “fantasies” around the nerve agent attack in Salisbury as the broadcasting watchdog investigates its state broadcaster over impartiality.

Ofcom has opened seven probes into news and current affairs shows including two hosted by former MP George Galloway on Russia Today (RT), which is owned by state media arm TV Novosti.

A spokesperson for the watchdog said: “Until recently, TV Novosti’s overall compliance record has not been materially out of line with other broadcasters.

“However, since the events in Salisbury, we have observed a signiicant increase in the number of programmes on the RT service that warrant investigation as potential breaches of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code.”

The announcement came as the UK accused Russia of proposing “contradictory and changing fantasies” to deny involvement in the attack on former double agent Sergei Skripal.

Peter Wilson, Britain’s permanent representative to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), told a meeting of the body’s executive council a“bra zen disinformation campaign” was underway. “They have sought to confuse, distract and brazenly misrepresent facts, despite the thorough, independent op cw report” that con ir med novichok nerve agent was used, he said.

“To date, Russia has proposed more than 30 contradictory and changing fantasies to explain the Salisbury attack. Russia’s actions to confuse and distract have not worked, but instead show how hard they are working to hide the truth.” Ofcom’s code states that all news must be reported “with due accuracy and presented with due impartiality,” and that “undue prominence” must not be given to a particular side on matters of controversy.