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Russia Blocks Web Content Amid Tension Over Ukraine Russia Blocks Web Content Amid Tension Over Ukraine
(6 months later)
MOSCOW — The Russian authorities on Thursday blocked three websites and a blog, including platforms used by the opposition figures Aleksei A. Navalny and Garry K. Kasparov, saying that Russia’s general prosecutor had ordered the sites closed because they had encouraged “illegal activities and participation in public events held in violation of the established order.” MOSCOW — The Russian authorities on Thursday blocked three websites and a blog, including platforms used by the opposition figures Aleksei A. Navalny and Garry K. Kasparov, saying that Russia’s general prosecutor had ordered the sites closed because they had encouraged “illegal activities and participation in public events held in violation of the established order.”
The moves came amid rising tensions over the crisis in Ukraine, and a day after a sudden personnel reshuffle that installed a pro-Kremlin journalist at the helm of one of Russia’s most popular independent online news sites, Lenta.ru. The step came after the site published an interview with the leader of a Ukrainian nationalist organization. On Thursday, the site announced that 39 of its 84 employees had resigned.The moves came amid rising tensions over the crisis in Ukraine, and a day after a sudden personnel reshuffle that installed a pro-Kremlin journalist at the helm of one of Russia’s most popular independent online news sites, Lenta.ru. The step came after the site published an interview with the leader of a Ukrainian nationalist organization. On Thursday, the site announced that 39 of its 84 employees had resigned.
Russia’s Internet has remained largely free, but a law that took effect on Feb. 1 allowed the authorities to order providers to block sites containing “extremist” content or calls for unauthorized public gatherings. Thursday was the first time that the authorities had used the law to block posts by prominent opposition figures. In addition to Mr. Kasparov’s site, the order blocked access to Daily Journal and Grani.ru, both sites that routinely carry content critical of Kremlin policy.Russia’s Internet has remained largely free, but a law that took effect on Feb. 1 allowed the authorities to order providers to block sites containing “extremist” content or calls for unauthorized public gatherings. Thursday was the first time that the authorities had used the law to block posts by prominent opposition figures. In addition to Mr. Kasparov’s site, the order blocked access to Daily Journal and Grani.ru, both sites that routinely carry content critical of Kremlin policy.
Two Moscow-based Internet providers had also blocked access to the site for the radio station Ekho Moskvy, which carries Mr. Navalny’s blog. The station’s editor, Aleksei A. Venediktov, told Interfax that he had received a warning from the general prosecutor on Thursday and decided to drop Mr. Navalny’s blog so that the site could remain open.Two Moscow-based Internet providers had also blocked access to the site for the radio station Ekho Moskvy, which carries Mr. Navalny’s blog. The station’s editor, Aleksei A. Venediktov, told Interfax that he had received a warning from the general prosecutor on Thursday and decided to drop Mr. Navalny’s blog so that the site could remain open.
He said the station would send formal queries to the prosecutor and Roskomnadzor, the federal agency that oversees the media, to ask what “extremist” material had been found in Mr. Navalny’s writing and to file a legal complaint about the blocking of the station’s site. A spokesman for Roskomnadzor told Interfax that Mr. Navalny’s blog violated the terms of his house arrest, which barred him from using the Internet. Late in February, a judge ruled that Mr. Navalny had violated a travel ban from a pending criminal case.He said the station would send formal queries to the prosecutor and Roskomnadzor, the federal agency that oversees the media, to ask what “extremist” material had been found in Mr. Navalny’s writing and to file a legal complaint about the blocking of the station’s site. A spokesman for Roskomnadzor told Interfax that Mr. Navalny’s blog violated the terms of his house arrest, which barred him from using the Internet. Late in February, a judge ruled that Mr. Navalny had violated a travel ban from a pending criminal case.
Mr. Navalny’s spokeswoman, Anna Veduta, said she believed the decision was based on the court order against Mr. Navalny, but that he had not been writing blog entries himself, and recent posts were the work of his wife and supporters. “This is another illegal act, which is part of the campaign we are seeing to cleanse the media” on Russia’s Internet, Ms. Veduta said.Mr. Navalny’s spokeswoman, Anna Veduta, said she believed the decision was based on the court order against Mr. Navalny, but that he had not been writing blog entries himself, and recent posts were the work of his wife and supporters. “This is another illegal act, which is part of the campaign we are seeing to cleanse the media” on Russia’s Internet, Ms. Veduta said.
Mr. Navalny’s blog on LiveJournal, Russia’s most popular social media site, published a post on Crimea on Wednesday, describing antigovernment protests in Kiev as “a people’s revolt against corrupt and thieving authorities,” and dismissing the government’s claim that Russians in Crimea were under threat — a pretext for government intervention in the region.Mr. Navalny’s blog on LiveJournal, Russia’s most popular social media site, published a post on Crimea on Wednesday, describing antigovernment protests in Kiev as “a people’s revolt against corrupt and thieving authorities,” and dismissing the government’s claim that Russians in Crimea were under threat — a pretext for government intervention in the region.