Russian Watchdog Registers Violations of Country's Law in CNN Int'l Broadcasting

Russia's Roskomnadzor watchdog has found violations in the activity of the TV channel CNN International.

MOSCOW(Sputnik) — The Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology, and Mass Media (Roskomnadzor) has found irregularities in the activity of the channel CNN International in the country and summoned its representatives for proceedings, the agency said in a statement Friday.

"Violations of Russian law on mass media have been registered in the activity of the TV channel CNN International, which envisages administrative liability under the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation. The representatives of the TV channel have been summoned to Roskomnadzor for consideration of administrative cases," the statement said.

The irregularities were registered after the Roskomnadzor's office in Russia's Central Federal District checked the Turner Info and Lifestyle Limited liability company, which is responsible for CNN International broadcasting in Russia.

Roskomnadzor will decide on issuing a caution to the TV channel for violating Russian legislation on mass media and licensing requirements in the field of TV broadcasting in course of the proceedings. The agency will also order that CNN International eliminate the violations and will continue to observe the channel's activities, according to the statement.

Roskomnadzor spokesman Vadim Ampelonsky told Sputnik that CNN systematically violates the Russian law formally in regard to the indication of the registration data, but the channel's closure is not being considered.

"We are not talking about the closure of the TV channel in any case, an order was issued to eliminate violations… But we will continue to monitor them for compliance with Russian legislation," Ampelonsky said.

The channel's violations of the law are systematical, but formal, as they violate the requirements for indicating the registration data of the TV channel.

"This violation is common, but it does not mean that we should not react. That is why we summoned them for the administrative case proceedings and the possible issuance of an administrative warning," Ampelonsky said, adding that the meeting has not yet taken place.

In November 2014, Turner Broadcasting System Europe informed Russian broadcasters that CNN International would cease its activities in Russia from December 31, 2014 due to new restrictions in Russian laws on mass media. Roskomnadzor then said it regretted that CNN had taken such a decision and suggested discussing the problems encountered by the broadcaster. In March 2015, CNN received a general license to broadcast in Russia for a term not exceeding 10 years.