RT, the Russian propaganda broadcaster funded by the Kremlin, has had its banking services axed in the UK.
The station threw a collective fit on Monday after receiving a letter from its bank, NatWest, which said that it would stop facilitating its financial activities.
Putin’s supporters in the British political system – whom Heat Street profiled just last Friday – have rallied to the defence of the station, claiming that the move is a violation of free speech.
RT statement on Natwest: pic.twitter.com/v2Nz9q966X
— RT Press Office (@RT_PressOffice_) October 17, 2016
NatWest – part of the RBS group, which is owned mostly by the UK government – has yet to comment publicly on the move.
RT says it was given no explanation for the decision in a letter that one of its presenters termed “very vague, very British”:
#RT bank accounts blocked in UK pic.twitter.com/C2bymqfFhz
— RT (@RT_com) October 17, 2016
It came the day after Wikileaks and Julian Assange complained loudly about his internet connection going down, and blamed it on the British government:
Julian Assange's internet link has been intentionally severed by a state party. We have activated the appropriate contingency plans.
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) October 17, 2016
The UK government directed Heat Street‘s questions to the UK Treasury – who waited for hours before pointing to a statement from the Prime Minister’s spokesman claiming the government had no influence over the decision.
Meanwhile, admirers of the station had already flooded Twitter to condemn the British government:
MORE propaganda @RT_com bank accounts were not frozen they were closed no explanation given
— David Coburn MEP (@DavidCoburnUKip) October 17, 2016
One reason I often appear on @RT_com is due to neoliberal suppression of alternative views Shame on our Govt
— David Coburn MEP (@DavidCoburnUKip) October 17, 2016
British state mouthpiece BBC's bank accounts remain not just open but stuffed full of your money taken on pain of imprisonment @RT_com
— George Galloway (@georgegalloway) October 17, 2016
At least RT doesn't pretend it's not a government mouthpiece….unlike the BBC. https://t.co/iMXgeeed2w
— Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) October 17, 2016
The BBC has also come under fire for its reporting of the situation, which some see as overly hostile.
However, behind closed doors the Corporation is happy to rub shoulders with RT bosses.
This summer Heat Street revealed that BBC bosses handed the station tickets to Wimbledon, where they enjoyed watching Andy Murray compete.
