Russia Today may lose UK license over Ukraine coverage

British TV regulator Ofcom may revoke the broadcast license of RT (Russia’s official broadcaster Russia Today) in the UK in view of its coverage related to the Russia-Ukraine standoff. The culture secretary has been requested to evaluate the activities of the channel.
In light of Russia's foray into Ukraine, concerns about RT's support for and by the Putin administration have grown.
Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer urged Ofcom to intervene at the prime minister's questions. “Russia Today is his [Putin’s] personal propaganda tool. I can see no reason why it should be allowed to continue broadcasting in this country.”
Nadine Dorres, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport of the United Kingdom previously urged the media regulator to reconsider RT's license, according to Prime Minister Boris Johnson. “We live in a democracy…and we live in a country that believes in free speech and I think it’s important we should leave it up to Ofcom rather than politicians to decide which media organisations to back, that’s what Russia does.”
Johnson chastised Labour MPs for "validating" RT by appearing on the programme in 2017, while he was the foreign secretary.

There have also been requests for Alex Salmond, the leader of the Alba Party, to have his RT show, The Alex Salmond Show, taken off the air because of allegations that the Scottish party is disseminating Russian disinformation.

Melanie Dawes, Chief Executive of Ofcom, said in a letter to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, said:
"Thank you for your letter of today about the crisis in Ukraine. I agree with you that a free media is one of the cornerstones of our democracy. Ofcom takes very seriously our role as the independent communications regulator, charged with upholding freedom of speech while ensuring that TV and radio audiences are protected from harm."

"Recognising the serious nature of the crisis in Ukraine, we have been keeping the situation under close review and have already stepped up our oversight of coverage of these events by broadcasters in the UK. We are expediting complaints in this area as a matter of urgency and we will not hesitate to take swift action where necessary. I am confident that we have the full range of enforcement tools at our disposal and our track record shows that when we find a breach of our rules, we can and do take action. As always we will be fully transparent about any investigations we open, and the outcomes of those," Melanie added.

"Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code, which reflects the rules established by Parliament in the Communications Act, requires all licensees to ensure that news – in whatever form – is reported with due accuracy and presented with due impartiality. It is acceptable for broadcasters to present issues from a particular perspective provided that alternative views and opinions are also represented. It would not be acceptable for any of our licensees to broadcast one-sided propaganda. Noting the Parliamentary interest in these issues, I am copying this letter to Julian Knight MP and the Rt Hon. the Baroness Stowell of Beeston, as chairs of the Commons and Lords Select Committees respectively," wrote Melanie.