Salmond is told ‘Carry on comrade’ by boss of Kremlin TV
‘It’s dangerous to be the presenter of RT’ ‘Sturgeon could do everyone a favour’
ALEX Salmond will continue to present his TV talk show on the Kremlin-backed broadcaster Russia Today – despite facing 14 criminal charges.
The former first minister appeared in court last Thursday accused of two attempted rapes, nine sexual assaults, two indecent assaults and one breach of the peace.
But yesterday the channel insisted he would continue to present the hour-long political show he has fronted and produced since 2017.
Russia Today (RT) said it was standing by him and his show would continue as usual.
The latest episode was broadcast on Friday but had been recorded before the news that Mr Salmond had been arrested and charged.
Since then RT had refused to say whether it would suspend the former SNP leader.
But yesterday a spokesman for the channel said: ‘In respect of the legal process currently under way in the Scottish court, we are unable to comment or take any action that might affect due process. This matter does not concern anything related to The Alex Salmond Show or RT, and The Alex Salmond Show will continue on air, as usual, at this time.
‘It is important to note, irrespective of the findings on this matter in court, that we believe firmly in the principles of a fair trial, including both the right to justice for victims and the presumption of innocence, and we utterly condemn sexual misconduct in any form.’
When Mr Salmond first broadcast his show in November 2017 he was called a ‘useful idiot’ for legitimising a channel which is widely seen as a mouthpiece for Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Last year he was criticised when he used the show to question Theresa May’s response to the Salisbury nerve agent poisonings.
He echoed Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, saying more evidence was needed to back up the claim Russia was involved in the attempted murder of former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.
After Mr Salmond’s arrest last week, the channel’s editorin-chief Margarita Simonyan issued a series of tweets apparently supporting him – and comparing him to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Ms Simonyan, who has been described as a Kremlin loyalist close to Mr Putin, tweeted: ‘Presenter of political show on our channel and former head of Scotland, Alex Salmond, has just been arrested.
‘Another presenter of a political show on our channel, Julian Assange, was charged, as we recall, with “sexual” crimes.’
She said it was ‘dangerous to be the presenter of RT’ and added: ‘Well, we then put our hopes on the Scottish court’.
Scottish Labour said Mr Salmond should not appear on RT while the case is ongoing.
A party spokesman said: ‘We obviously need to let all the ongoing investigations run their course, but in light of the events of recent weeks, this doesn’t seem to be approprito ate.’ Yesterday the Scottish Conservatives said First Minister Nicola Sturgeon – who has promised to outline her plans for a second independence referendum ‘within weeks’ – should put this plan on hold while her predecessor remains under criminal investigation.
Conservative MSP Maurice Golden said: ‘Given the events of the last few weeks, surely Nicola Sturgeon must bow to the inevitable and make clear her plan for a second referendum on independence is off. The Nationalists seem unable focus on running the Scottish Government, never mind plan for another reckless referendum. Nicola Sturgeon could do everyone a favour and make clear she’s pulling it.’
However, an SNP spokesman hit back: ‘The only thing that needs to be halted right now is the Tories’ catastrophic Brexit which is set to do so much damage to jobs and living standards in Scotland.’
Mr Salmond made no plea when he appeared on petition before Edinburgh Sheriff Court last week and he was released on bail. He will reappear this week and could face a jury trial within 12 months.
Outside court he insisted he was ‘innocent of any criminality’ and promised to defend himself ‘to the utmost’.