Russia Protests Closing of News Agency Account in Britain

The Russian Foreign Ministry demanded Monday that Britain immediately clarify why the London bank account of Russia's main state news agency has been closed.

The ministry said it had information that Rossiya Segodnya's (Russia Today) account with Barclays was closed Wednesday because of sanctions on its general director, Dmitry Kiselyov.

The agency was not told the fate of its money and the situation was making it difficult for it to operate in Britain, the ministry statement said.

Kiselyov, the most prominent face of the Kremlin's anti-Western propaganda campaign, was among those hit by EU sanctions following Russia's annexation of Crimea.

At the time of the annexation, he had reminded viewers of his weekly news program that Russia was the only country capable of turning the U.S. into "radioactive ash."

Barclays declined to comment on client accounts or matters. Britain's Foreign Office also declined comment.