MPs demand that Russia’s ‘lie machine’ TV channel in UK is shut down
TORY MPs have demanded the TV regulator take immediate action against Russia Today (RT) after it described Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine as a ‘special military operation’ to ‘liberate’ the country.
Misinformation spread by the television channel about the conflict includes the notion that Ukrainian soldiers are ‘radical nationalists’ who are defending a genocide against Russians.
Its reporters have also insisted the Russian military is not targeting civilians, despite images of bloodied Ukrainians and bombed-out tower blocks, and have broadcast false claims that Ukrainians are using civilians as human shields.
A reporter on Friday evening also compared a law signed by Ukraine’s Jewish president, Volodymyr Zelensky, to the policies of Adolf Hitler.
Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries last week told Ofcom to take ‘timely and transparent’ action against the channel.
However, criticism of RT was shrugged off by former London mayor Ken Livingstone, who used an appearance on the station last week to declare: ‘I have never seen propaganda. I’ve never seen a lie.’
Alex Salmond suspended his chat show on the Kremlin-funded channel last week, in response to a backlash. Nicola Sturgeon had said on Wednesday it was ‘unthinkable’ her predecessor as First Minister would continue to appear on RT.
But on Thursday, with the Russian invasion of Ukraine well under way, another episode aired, with former Lib Dem leader Vince Cable as his guest. Hours later, Mr Salmond finally bowed to pressure and said the show would be suspended ‘until peace is re-established’.
Despite an expectation that Ofcom would crack down on RT, a spokesman last night admitted that no action had been taken.
Tory MP Tom Tugendhat, chairman of the Commons’ Foreign
‘Why is it on our screens? It is a weapon against us’
Affairs Select Committee, said RT was ‘not an information network, it’s a weapon against us’, adding: ‘What is it doing on our screens when media watchdog Ofcom already has the power to take action?’
RT, which launched in 2005, is run by Putin’s ally Margarita Simonyan, who once said the channel would conduct ‘an information war against the Western world’.
On Wednesday, she wrote on Twitter the invasion was ‘a standard parade rehearsal’, adding: ‘Except this year we have decided to hold the parade in Kyiv.’ Similar opinions about the invasion have been spouted by the channel in the past week. Analysis shows it only refers to the conflict as a ‘special military operation’ and reporters cite the
Russian claim that it will ‘liberate the territories of the Luhansk and Donetsk peoples’ republics’.
On Thursday, news presenter Rory Suchet – the son of ITN journalist
John Suchet – repeated Russian defence ministry claims that ‘direct fighting with Ukraine soldiers has largely been avoided’, despite visual evidence of clashes. On Friday, a voiceover described a law signed by President Zelensky in July as ‘almost a direct copy of a 1935 Reich citizenship law of Hitler’s Germany’. The Mail on Sunday can
also reveal that at least 20 current and former British MPs have received almost £100,000 from the channel to speak on its programmes since the annexation of Crimea in 2014. They include Tory MP Kwasi Kwarteng, who was paid £750 for an appearance in February 2017 before he was appointed Business Secretary.
Europe Minister James Cleverly appeared in 2016 but said he did not accept payment. ‘RT has become considerably more partisan since then,’ he added. ‘I would not appear now.’
Labour MP Richard Burgon has appeared 11 times and Tony Blair’s former spin doctor Alastair Campbell at least three times since 2014. Labour frontbencher David Lammy has earned £2,000 for two appearances.
A spokesman for Ofcom said: ‘All licensees must observe Ofcom’s rules, including due accuracy and due impartiality. If broadcasters break those rules, we will not hesitate to step in.’
Last night, a number of Russian TV channels appeared to have been hacked, with Ukrainian songs replacing usual programming. Russian Government web pages were down, while RT went offline for several hours.
It was unclear who the hackers are, but the Anonymous group has declared it is ‘at war’ with Russia.