Sergei Lavrov Accuses UK Government Of Pressuring RBS To Block RT Bank Accounts

In one of the bigger stories to hit yesterday, Russian media outlet, RT, which is funded by the government reported that NatWest, a division of the nationalized RBS, had blocked access to RT’s bank account, provoking a confused and in some cases angry response that the UK government was trying to stifle free speech. To be sure, NatWest rejected any suggestion of political pressure, releasing the following statement: ‘We have recently undertaken a review of your banking arrangements with us and reached the conclusion that we will no longer provide these facilities.”
Today it appears that Russia did not accept that explanation, and as Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said, the decision by a majority-British government-owned bank to stop servicing RT UK’s accounts could not have been taken by the institution independently.
‘It’s as clear as day that this decision was not made by the bank. And not any other bank – banks don’t make such decisions on their own,’ he said. ‘I believe an old saying is appropriate here: don’t treat others the way you don’t wish to be treated yourself.’

This post was published at Zero Hedge on Oct 18, 2016.