UK Foreign Office complaint sees RT Twitter account suspended

A Kremlin-linked Twitter account that was part of an online re-enactment of the 1917 Russian revolution has been suspended after a UK Foreign Office (FCO) complaint.

The @BritishEmb1917 account, created by the Russian government-backed news channel RT, used the FCO's official crest in its profile, The Guardian reported.

But it was removed following a complaint.

An FCO spokesman told The Independent: "We alerted Twitter to an unofficial account that was using HMG branding without consent."

The page was one of a number of linked accounts designed by the network, formerly known as Russia Today, to provide real-time updates in a re-telling of the 1917 uprising. The project is called #1917LIVE.

RT's social media boss, Ivor Crotty, said on Twitter: "Turns out @ukinrussia DID block the #1917Live handle for British Embassy. Not sure what this was supposed to achieve. Sad, spiteful."

Mr Crotty had previously tried to enlist the help of the UK embassy in Russia to lift the suspension.

He said: "We're willing to do whatever it takes to ensure #1917Live project integrity and retweet the revolutions in a way all are comfortable with".