Natwest freezes Russia Today’s UK bank accounts

Putin upset because the account lockout

Natwest has withdrawn its U.K. banking services from state-run broadcaster Russia Today, according to Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of the state-run broadcaster.


Head of Communications for RT, Anna Belkina, said in a statement the withdrawal of its UK banking services was 'incomprehensible'.

She went on to add, "It is however, not at odds with the countless measures that have been undertaken in the UK and Europe over the last few years to ostracize, shout down, or downright impede the work of RT."

The freeze to RT's bank accounts does not appear to come into effect until the 12th of December although the broadcaster said it had received no explanation as to why Natwest is preparing to sever its ties.

RT has come under fire from critics who argue the broadcaster is a means of propaganda and partisan reporting with British broadcasting watchdog Ofcom ruling against the media outlet in the past.

In the wake of Natwest allegedly closing the UK accounts of RT's employees, Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief, adopted a somewhat sarcastic tone on Twitter by stating, 'Long live freedom of speech!'.