Putin takes on BBC as channel taken OFF AIR

The news was revealed on Twitter by Reuters journalist Nawied Jabarkhyl. This is the second such move on the BBC by the Kremlin after the website had been restricted in Russia, hours after the corporation brought back its shortwave radio service in Ukraine and Russia. Britain has already blocked several Russian news channels in the UK, including RT.

State communications watchdog Roskomnadzor restricted access to BBC Russia’s online presence, as well as Radio Liberty and the Meduza media outlet, the state-owned Russian RIA news agency reported on Friday.

On Friday, Globalcheck, a service that tracks internet censorship in the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), reported that the availability of the entire BBC website was at 17% of normal levels in Russia, which suggested some services had been blocked.

Other mediums have also been blocked by Kremlin officials.

Facebook and Twitter have also been restricted.

The BBC said Friday it had temporarily halted reporting in Russia, and by the end of the day, the Canadian Broadcasting Company and Bloomberg News said their journalists were also stopping work.

CNN and CBS News said they would stop broadcasting in Russia, and other outlets removed Russian-based journalists’ bylines as they assessed the situation.

In light of the blockades, BBC director-general Tim Davie said: “Truth is often the first casualty of war.

“In a conflict where disinformation and propaganda is rife, there is a need for factual and independent news people can trust.” Express UK