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Kremlin-controlled RT blocked from UK homes after EU bans channel over 'Putin propaganda'
Ìý³¦³ó²¹²Ô²Ô±ð±ôÌýRT - formerly known as Russia Today -Ìýhas been cut from UK screens days after an EU-wide ban on the Kremlin-owned broadcaster.
The 24/7 English language channel - whichÌýclaims to haveÌý700 million viewers worldwide - is no longer available to viewers in the UK viaÌýSky, Freesat or Freeview's digital television platforms.
While the UK is not a member ofÌý, the blocÌýappliedÌýsanctions to a company based in Luxembourg and Ìýthat provides the feed to Sky, Freesat,Ìýand Freeview.
UK regulator ÌýRT over a possibleÌýbreaching of broadcasting standards on impartiality issues.
RTÌý - often described as a Kremlin mouthpiece - has come under fire for its biasedÌýcoverage of , which began on 24 February.
"As part of a concerted effort...ÌýRussia Today is no longer streamed into British homes, either by TV, Sky, Freesat or Freeview," UK Culture SecretaryÌýNadine DorriesÌýtold the House of Commons on Thursday, describingÌýRTÌýas Russian President "Putin's polluting propaganda machine".
°®Âþµº contacted Ofcom, who confirmed the ban on the live feedÌýmeans that RT is no longer on UK airwaves.
"I'd just like to offer my heartfelt thanks and admiration to all of those journalists... who are risking their lives to bring us unbiased and accurate news from a live warzone"
— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics)
Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries gives an emotional tribute to journalists
Ofcom on Wednesday openedÌý12 investigationsÌý"into theÌýdue impartialityÌýof programmes" onÌýRT, in addition to.
Dorris stated during her speech that she hoped the investigations wouldÌý"result in the removal of Russia Today's licence so that they're never again able...Ìýto broadcast their propaganda into the UK".
RTÌýsaid on Thursday it "long stopped expecting any legitimacy or reason in Britain's attempts to curtail media freedoms" in a statement toÌýReuters.
"Now it seems it has forgotten Brexit and is seeking to force influence over the rest of Europe," AnnaÌýBelkina, the channel's deputy editor in chief,Ìýsaid.
European Union President said the 27-member bloc would ban the channelÌýfollowing Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Ukrainian authorities sayÌýÌýhave been killed since Moscow's offensive began.