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BBC World News airs in Russia just days after the country passed a law that carries a 15-year prison sentence for spreading “fake” news about Ukraine, the broadcaster says.

Russian authorities have restricted access to foreign and independent media, including the main BBC website, in recent days as the invasion of Ukraine continues.

On Friday, his parliament passed a law that makes it a crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison for spreading “fake” or “untrue” news about the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine, prompting the BBC to temporarily suspend all your stories. journalists and support staff in Russia.

BBC World News presenter Victoria Derbyshire was the first to announce the channel’s suspension.

He told viewers just before noon on Sunday: “BBC World News, the channel you watch if you’re outside of the UK right now, and it’s the BBC’s global TV news channel, just started broadcasting in Russia.

A BBC spokesperson later confirmed that BBC World News was no longer available in Russia.

The spokesperson added: “We regret that our Russian audience was denied access to reliable and unbiased news at a time when they needed it most.”

Since the Russian invasion began last month, broadcasters have been working to ensure that people inside Russia and Ukraine have access to its news.

Both Ukrainian and Russian language services are available on the dark web via the Tor network, privacy-focused software, and the company has also reinstated its shortwave radio service in a bid to thwart censorship attempts.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova previously accused the BBC of playing a “steadfast role in undermining Russia’s stability and security.”

In Britain, broadcast watchdog Ofcom has opened 27 investigations into the “due justice” of programs broadcast on the Kremlin-backed news channel RT, formerly known as Russia Today.

Additional reports from the Press Association

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