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BBC’s websites convey terrorist ideas, Russian media watchdog says

According to the watchdog, a probe is underway to figure out whether certain features are consistent with Russia’s counter-extremism legislation

© AP Photo/Frank Augstein

MOSCOW, January 10. /TASS/. Some features on the BBC’s websites convey the ideas of international terrorist organizations, the Russian media watchdog said in a statement on Thursday.

"Features conveying the ideas of international terrorist organizations have been exposed (quotes from terrorist al-Baghdadi [the leader of the Islamic State terror group outlawed in Russia - TASS]). A probe is underway to figure out whether these features are consistent with Russia’s counter-extremism legislation," the statement reads.

According to the watchdog, the BBC’s websites, including the Russian-language one, are checked on a regular basis in order to make sure that there are no violations of Russian laws.

The watchdog went on to say that on January 14-31, a probe into the British Television LLP, which transmits the programs of the BBC World News TV channel in Russia, would be conducted to find out if it abided by licensing and other mandatory requirements for TV and radio broadcasting.

Earlier on Wednesday, the company was requested to provide documents confirming its compliance with a Russian law limiting direct and indirect control of Russian media outlets by foreign organizations. Documents are to be presented by January 16.

On December 21, 2018, the Russian media watchdog announced probes into the BBC’s websites and the BBC World News in Russia TV channel in order to figure out whether their content is consistent with Russian laws. Prior to that, British media regulator Ofcom had said that Russia’s RT TV channel had broken impartiality rules.

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