UK media given warning after RT fined £200,000

Ofcom hits out at breach of impartiality rules

British media in Russia have been warned to prepare themselves for the consequences after Ofcom fined RT £200,000 for a breach of impartiality rules.

The Russian foreign ministry said it is “closely monitoring the development of the situation” in response to the UK watchdog’s decision over the Kremlin-backed broadcaster.

Ofcom ruled that news channel RT (formerly Russia Today) failed to preserve due impartiality in seven news and current affairs programmes between March 17 and April 26 2018.

The programmes were mostly in relation to major matters of political controversy and current public policy – namely the UK Government’s response to the Skripal poisoning in Salisbury, and the Syrian conflict.

In a statement on social media, Russia’s foreign ministry said it will “remind British media working in Russia that they should be ready to face the consequences” following the actions from London. They said the actions of the broadcasting watchdog were part of an “anti-Russian campaign in the UK”.

In December, Russia’s media watchdog Roskomnadzor launched an investigation into the BBC’s websites and World News channel over alleged violations of Russian law.

It came the day after Ofcom warned it was considering sanctions against RT for breaching its impartiality rules.

Two of the seven RT programmes ruled to have breached impartiality featured former MP George Galloway.

An Ofcom spokeswoman said: “RT’s failings were a serious breach of our due impartiality rules, which protect public trust in news and other programmes.” Ofcom has directed RT to broadcast a summary of its findings in a form and on dates to be determined by the watchdog.

The news channel has said it is considering legal options over the sanctions.