BBC says follows laws of countries of broadcast, including Russia

MOSCOW, Jan 11 (PRIME) -- The British Broadcasting Company (BBC) works in compliance with laws of every country where it functions, including Russia, a company spokesperson told PRIME late Thursday.

“As an international broadcaster, BBC works with respect to laws of every country of broadcast, including Russia,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

Earlier on Thursday, the Russian communications service said it will check BBC for compliance with license and compulsory requirements in television broadcasting between January 14 and 31.

The authority said earlier that it had initiated checks of BBC World News, broadcast in Russia, and online resources of BBC for compliance of its materials with the local laws in the wake of a decision of U.K. regulator Ofcom that channel RT had infringed broadcasting rules.

Ofcom found violations of the principle of unbiasedness in work of RT and said it could impose a fine on the Russian channel.

The watchdog’s check of online resources of BBC revealed materials distributing ideologies of international terrorist organizations. The materials are being scrutinized for respect of the Russian law.

The local office of BBC is requested to provide documents confirming compliance with the local law on mass media, which caps direct or indirect foreign control in local mass media at 20%, by January 16.

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