MOSCOW: Russia’s media watchdog accused the BBC Thursday of spreading the ideologies of “terrorist groups” via online publications of its Russian service, the latest in a tit-for-tat row over media impartiality.
Roskomnadzor, the state communications and media watchdog, said it would investigate whether the BBC was breaking the law.
This was the latest volley in a wave of rhetoric against the BBC, after Britain’s broadcasting regulator Ofcom last year said the Moscow-funded RT channel had broken broadcasting standards.
“Currently we have discovered materials which transmit the ideologies of international terrorist groups (quotes of terrorist Al-Baghdadi)” on the BBC’s Russian language website, Roskomnadzor said in a statement.
Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi is the leader of the Islamic state jihadist group, also known as Daesh.
Russian law does not forbid quoting individuals considered “terrorists,” however any mention of such outlawed groups has to come with the disclaimer that the group is banned in Russia.
The watchdog said it would probe whether material broadcast by the BBC “corresponds with Russian anti-extremism legislation.”
The BBC said in a statement sent to AFP that it “fully complies with the legislation and regulations of every country” in which it operates.
The Russian statement did not cite any specific articles or dates.
Roskomnadzor also said it had requested documents from the BBC’s Russian services to investigate whether it was breaking a new law limiting foreign ownership of Russian media.
BBC’s Russian service is limited to the Internet, but it has expanded in recent years and has many top reporters on the team dealing with often sensitive political subjects.
Britain’s Ofcom said in December it had found violations of impartiality rules in seven of RT’s shows broadcast after the Salisbury nerve agent attack on former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.
The statement was not followed by any sanctions.
Moscow said at the time that any proceedings against the BBC were a “mirror measure” for Britain’s “constant propaganda against RT,” a state-owned channel.
Russia accuses BBC of spreading ‘terrorist’ ideologies
Russia accuses BBC of spreading ‘terrorist’ ideologies
- The BBC said in a statement sent to AFP that it “fully complies with the legislation and regulations of every country” in which it operates
Western media refute Trump’s claims Iran possesses Tomahawk missiles
- Speaking to journalists, Trump suggested Tehran used US-made cruise missile in school attack that killed over 170, calling the weapon ‘very generic’
- CNN, Sky News and analysts said that ‘neither Israel nor Iran use Tomahawk missiles,’ urged accurate identification to ensure credibility in public discourse
LONDON: Western media outlets and defense analysts have pushed back against claims by US President Donald Trump that Iran possesses Tomahawk cruise missiles, after he raised the possibility while discussing a recent strike on an Iranian school that has drawn international scrutiny.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Trump suggested Iran may have used Tomahawks in the attack, calling the weapon “very generic” and implying that multiple countries, including Iran, could have access to the system.
However, journalists and weapons experts swiftly disputed that assertion. They noted that Tomahawk missiles are US-manufactured cruise missile systems that Washington supplies only to a small number of close allies, primarily the UK and Australia. There is no credible evidence that Iran has ever obtained the weapon.
CNN anchor Erin Burnett referenced an investigation by correspondent Isobel Yeong that concluded “neither Israel nor Iran use Tomahawk missiles, according to experts.” Sky News and other Western outlets also challenged Trump’s remarks.
Analysts pointed out that Iran has developed its own domestic cruise missile systems, such as the Soumar and Hoveyzeh, which are believed to be based partly on older Soviet-era designs.
While these systems resemble cruise missiles in concept, experts say they differ significantly from the Tomahawk in design, propulsion configuration and operational characteristics.
While Iran has made substantial advances in ballistic and domestically produced cruise missiles over the past two decades, defense analysts said there is no verified evidence that Tehran holds the American-made system.
The episode reflects a broader pattern in which statements about military technology are rapidly scrutinized by open-source investigators and defense experts.
Experts say the distinction is important: accurately identifying the type of missile used in a strike can provide clues about the likely actor responsible, the launch platform involved and the broader geopolitical consequences of a strike.
Analysts also say that accurate identification of military systems remains essential for avoiding misinformation and for maintaining credibility in public discourse surrounding regional security.
Despite the growing body of evidence, the precise circumstances of the school attack nonetheless remain unclear, with investigators hampered by a lack of weapons fragments and limited access to the site.
Norway-based rights group Hengaw said the school was holding its morning session at the time of the reported attack and had at least 168 children and 14 teachers.
Trump said the US was continuing to investigate the incident. “Whatever the report shows, I’m willing to live with that report,” he said.
