Calls for RT France to be suspended

The chairman of the French Culture Committee of the Senate, has written to the audio visual regulator demanding the immediate suspension of the Kremlin-funded RT.

The former Russia Today has come under increased pressure from regulators and political commentators following Russia’s attack on Ukraine.

In a letter addressed to Roch-Olivier Maistre, the president of Arcom (the former CSA), Laurent Lafon, the president of the Culture Committee, said the RT channel and its website delivered propaganda from the Kremlin without contradiction. “It is urgent to ask ourselves about the threat posed by this Russian government communication organ to our democratic values in the light of the new situation created by the outbreak of military operations in Ukraine,” he said.

As in the UK, RT holds a legitimate licence with the regulator, who would have to prove that it was in breach of local regulations. However, the seasoned parliamentarian points to the agreement between RT and the regulator that refers to pluralism within the opinions broadcast. “I observe that this convention also refers to the requirement of honesty of the programmes. I wonder, in the light of these obligations, that the Russia Today service never gives voice to the opposition in Russia and does not carry out any work consisting in questioning the Russian people about the decisions taken by their leaders, in particular, this decision to attack Ukraine. This service also refrains from highlighting the disastrous consequences of this aggression on the Ukrainian civilian population,” says Lafon.

On Wednesday, it was revealed UK regulator Ofcom would investigate RT as a matter of urgency. Similar steps are being taken in Poland, while action over RT’s German website is already underway.

Earlier this week the journalist Frédéric Taddeï announced he would end his RT France show Interdit d’interdiction.

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