Ofcom launches investigation into 'unprecedented number' of programmes on Russian news channel RT

Ofcom has launched an “unprecedented” 15 investigations into the “due impartiality” of programmes on Russian news channel RT.

Speaking to Sky News, Dame Melanie Dawes described the situation as “serious” and said she was “expecting full cooperation” from RT (formerly known as Russia Today) as they attempt to look into potential rule breaches as quickly as possible “recognising the seriousness of the situation in Ukraine“.

She explained: “We’ve got concerns with 15 programmes which is an unprecedented number for us on any one day with any one broadcaster and we will continue to monitor, receive and act on any complaints we receive while the programmes are still on air.”

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Today we have launched 15 investigations into the due impartiality of news programmes broadcast on RT.

Due to the severity of the current crisis in Ukraine, these investigations will be expedited.

Read our full statement here:https://t.co/VuWcIjBAQV pic.twitter.com/rzHIJAcTVp

The investigations relate to 15 editions of the channel’s hourly News programme coverage of Ukraine on Saturday 27 February from 5am onwards and for the following 48 hours.

“I don’t want to say any more about the detail at this stage because obviously we need to work that through with RT and run a fair process,” Dame Melanie said.

Ofcom has come under increasing political pressure to look at revoking RT’s license.

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At the weekend, the Prime Minister admitted if he had the power to ban the channel he would as it is “doing a lot of damage to the truth”.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has labelled the channel Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “personal propaganda tool”, saying it spreads “lies and disinformation”.

Last week, Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries asked the media regulator to review how RT operates, expressing her concerns that certain states want to “exploit and undermine” the UK’s media landscape. It comes after the EU announced it will ban the channel.

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“We take all our decisions absolutely independently,” Dame Melanie confirmed.

“We do, of course, recognise the interest in a particular moment at this incredibly critical time so we’re being fully transparent about what we do as always and we will move as fast as we possibly can.

“But we are absolutely making our own decisions completely independently, as we always do.”

RT was fined £200,000 by Ofcom for breaching impartiality rules after it broke the British broadcasting code on seven occasions over the Salisbury Novichok poisoning.

While there are growing calls to suspend RT’s license, concerns have been raised that such action could result in a tit-for-tat media expulsion in Russia.

Speaking in the Commons Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, said: “The reality is that if we ban RT in the United Kingdom, that is likely to lead to channels like the BBC being banned in Russia.

“What we want is the Russian population to hear the truth about what Vladimir Putin is doing, so there’s a very careful judgment to be made, and that is something the Culture Secretary is looking at.”

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