State regulator had threatened to block BBC Russia website if material featuring Artem Loskutov was not taken down

This article is more than 6 years old

This article is more than 6 years old

The BBC World Service has rejected a request by the Russian state media watchdog to remove an interview in which an activist urged listeners to support an unsanctioned march for the federalisation of Siberia.

Russian communications regulator Roskomnadzor blocked access to the interview and threatened to do the same to the entire BBC Russian website if the material featuring Russian artist and activist Artem Loskutov was not removed.

But the BBC said it had “no plans” to remove the interview from the website, bbcrussian.com, and described Loskutov as an “artist and activist known for organising events which are, at first sight, parodies of political activity, but which also bring out serious issues about life in Russia”.

The audio interview was first broadcast on 31 July as part of the BBSeva programme in which Seva Novgorodsey interviewed Loskutov about the planned “march for the federalisation of Siberia” in Novosibirsk.

Loskutov urged people to attend the demonstration in support of giving the Siberia region more rights within Russia which is planned for 17 August.

The BBC took the step of amending the website to add further background on Loskutov and his previous activities to “provide further context” to the story. It said the update was part of its “normal editorial processes”.

It also added a quote from the activist in which he described the event as “part parody, part provocation, but also, partly, a real attempt to gain autonomy” in an attempt to raise serious questions about the future of Siberia.

A BBC spokesperson said: “We have no plans to remove this interview from our website.

“Mr Loskutov is an artist and activist known for organising events which are, at first sight, parodies of political activity, but which also bring out serious issues about life in Russia. Mr Loskutov’s views represent his personal position.

“The BBC aims to present all sides of a story in an impartial, unbiased way, and we have also requested an interview with a Russian government official to explain their position on the planned march.

“Our editorial decisions are guided by the BBC’s editorial guidelines and the story in question is in full compliance with the requirements set out by this document.”

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