A discussion of the Salisbury killings presented by George Galloway was one of seven RT programmes to break the rules

Russia-controlled television station RT is facing punishment from British regulators after seven of its programmes broadcast after the Salisbury poisonings were found to have breached impartiality rules.

The seven programmes in March and April this year, followed the poisoning of the former spy, Sergei Skripal, which the UK government blames on Moscow.

Ofcom said the multiple breaches of the broadcasting code represented a “serious failure of compliance” by the Kremlin-funded station.

The regulator said it was minded to impose a statutory sanction on the Russian state television network, which could include a fine or compelling the broadcaster to read out its critical findings on air.

Ofcom also has the power to revoke the station’s licence to broadcast in the UK, although this is considered