Russia threatens to retaliate after Britain fines RT TV channel

Media regulator Ofcom fined the Kremlin-backed channel for ‘serious failures’ in its coverage of the Syrian conflict and Salisbury nerve agent poisoning

British media working in Russia should be prepared to face the consequences, the foreign ministry said

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Britain’s media watchdog has imposed a fine on the Kremlin-backed TV channel RT. Photo: AFP

Published: 11:06pm, 26 Jul 2019Updated: 1:57am, 27 Jul 2019

Russia has threatened Moscow-based British media with retaliation after London’s media watchdog imposed a heavy fine on the Kremlin-backed TV channel RT.

“British media working in Russia should be prepared to face the consequences of London’s actions,” the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement on Friday. The fine is an “act of censorship”, it added.

Ofcom, the UK’s media regulator, fined RT £200,000 (US$248,740) for “serious failures” in its coverage of last year’s Salisbury nerve agent poisoning and the Syrian conflict.

Russia said the fine “far exceeded” those imposed on other media, adding RT had been unfairly singled out.

Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal. Photo: EPA-EFE

“Once again we are witnessing how British authorities are trying to limit the activity of Russian media in the country,” it said, claiming that this was part of an “anti-Russian campaign” in Britain.