11 Feb 2019 18:18

NTV following situation surrounding UK media regulator Ofcom's possible sanctions - NTV press service

MOSCOW. Feb 11 (Interfax) - The television company NTV says it is following the situation surrounding UK media regulator Ofcom, which may impose restrictive measures on a broadcaster of the television channel NTV Mir Baltic.

"We are still following it. When there's a decision, there will be a comment," NTV's press service told Interfax on Monday.

Ofcom said earlier on Monday that it may introduce restrictive measures on the TV channel's broadcaster.

According to the bulletin, this is the sixth time the licensee has violated the rules governing impartial coverage of events on NTV Mir Lithuania and NTV Mir Baltic since November 2014.

The claims concern the NTV Mir Baltic report from April 2, 2018 on the poisoning of Russian military intelligence service (GRU) ex-officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury.

Ofcom called the report a major violation of the rules of impartiality, because this case sets a precedent, according to the document.

"Therefore, subject to receiving the Licensee's representations on this issue, Ofcom is minded to consider the imposition of a statutory sanction," the bulletin reads.