Russian communications watchdog restricts access to sites including BBC, Deutsche Welle and Radio Free Europe following request by prosecutors.
Published On 4 Mar 20224 Mar 2022
Russia’s media watchdog has said it restricted access to several independent media websites including the BBC, tightening controls over the internet more than one week after Russia invaded Ukraine.
Access to websites of the BBC, the independent news website Meduza, German broadcaster Deutsche Welle, and the Russian-language website of the United States-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Svoboda were “limited”, Roskomnadzor said on Friday, following a request from prosecutors.
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Russia has repeatedly complained that Western media organisations offer a partial – and often anti-Russian – view of the world while failing to hold their own leaders to account for devastating foreign wars such as Iraq, and corruption.
The BBC said it would not be deterred by the Russian curbs.
“Access to accurate, independent information is a fundamental human right which should not be denied to the people of Russia, millions of whom rely on BBC News every week,” it said.
“We will continue our efforts to make BBC News available in Russia, and across the rest of the world.”
Western leaders have for years raised concerns about the dominance of state media in Russia and say the freedoms won when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 have been rolled back by President Vladimir Putin.
According to an official notice received on March 3, the Russian communications watchdog said Radio Liberty’s Russian service had spread “obviously fake socially significant information about the alleged Russian attack on Ukrainian territory”.
“Such information is wrong,” Radio Liberty cited the official notice as saying.
The European Union last week announced a ban on several Russian-funded medial outlets, most prominently Russia Today and Sputnik.
“[They] will no longer be able to spread their lies to justify Putin’s war and to sow division in our Union” EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said after announcing the ban.
Sputnik responded with a sardonic statement, saying: “We suggest the European Commission not stop halfway and ban the internet altogether.”
RT’s French subsidiary tweeted the ban “goes against the very principles of freedom of expression” and said it was a victim of “censorship”.
Describing the situation in Ukraine has become a sensitive issue in Moscow.
Putin said the “special military operation” was essential to ensure Russian security after the United States enlarged the NATO military alliance to Russia’s borders and supported pro-Western leaders in Kyiv.
Russian officials do not use the word “invasion” and say Western media have failed to report on what they cast as the “genocide” of Russian-speaking people in Ukraine.
Source
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Al Jazeera and news agencies
FAQs
The current government of Russia maintains laws and practices that make it difficult for directors of mass-media outlets to carry out independent policies. These laws and practices also hinder the ability of journalists to access sources of information and to work without outside pressure.
Does Russia restrict internet access? ›
Since 2012, Russia maintains a centralized internet blacklist (known as the "single register") maintained by the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media (Roskomnadzor). The list is used for the censorship of individual URLs, domain names, and IP addresses.
Can you access Western media in Russia? ›
Russian communications watchdog restricts access to sites including BBC, Deutsche Welle and Radio Free Europe following request by prosecutors.
What websites are blocked in Russia? ›
Also Read:
| List of Websites Blocked in Russia (2004 -2024) |
|---|
| Website Name | Domain | Block Year |
|---|
| Tor | torproject.org | December 2021 |
| BBC News Russian, Deutsche Welle, RFE/RL, Twitter | Various | March 2022 |
| VKontakte | vk.com | December 2021 |
51 more rowsMar 12, 2024
Part of the stated basis for blocking Russian state media organizations is that they are state-controlled and engage in propaganda to further Russian foreign policy aims. But these organizations have always been state-controlled and have always echoed Russian government propaganda.
How is media censored in Russia? ›
Censorship is controlled by the Government of Russia and by civil society in the Russian Federation, applying to the content and the diffusion of information, printed documents, music, works of art, cinema and photography, radio and television, web sites and portals, and in some cases private correspondence, with the ...
When did censorship start in Russia? ›
The history of censorship in the Russia began long before the emergence of the empire. The first book containing an index of prohibited works dates to the year 1073, in Kievan Rus.
What percent of Russia has Internet access? ›
There were 127.6 million internet users in the Russian Federation at the start of 2023, when internet penetration stood at 88.2 percent. Russia was home to 106.0 million social media users in January 2023, equating to 73.3 percent of the total population.
What does the government control in Russia? ›
The ministries of the Government, which numbered 24 in mid-1996, execute credit and monetary policies and defense, foreign policy, and state security functions; ensure the rule of law and respect for human and civil rights; protect property; and take measures against crime.
Is there freedom in Russia? ›
Russia is rated Not Free in Freedom in the World 2024, Freedom House's annual study of political rights and civil liberties worldwide.
The situation in Russia's media is unprecedented. Restrictions on reporting are increasingly severe, and access to almost all independent outlets is blocked or limited - or they censor themselves. Despite this, it is still possible to obtain uncensored information in Russia.
Where do Russians get their information from? ›
The Internet outdistances traditional media such as newspapers and magazines (49.8%) and radio (43.8%) as sources for weekly news. Still, more Russians are getting their weekly news fix from a less technological source – word of mouth.
Is TikTok banned in Russia? ›
Russia. In March 2022, Russia criminalized spreading “misinformation” against its war with Ukraine. TikTok then banned any new uploads and only allowed old videos that were uploaded within Russia.
Can Russians use Gmail? ›
There are approximately 146 million people in Russia and, as of 2022, there are approximately 112 million internet users. Mail.ru is the most widely used mailbox provider in Russia, followed by Yandex, Gmail and Rambler.
Is Amazon banned in Russia? ›
In 2022, Amazon also suspended shipments of retail products to customers based in Russia and Belarus, blocked access to Prime Video, and announced that it would no longer accept new sign-ups from Russia and Belarus for its Amazon Web Services (AWS).
What news sites are banned in Russia? ›
In March 2022, amid its invasion of Ukraine, Russia began to increasingly block international news outlets such as BBC News Russian, Deutsche Welle, and RFE/RL (including Current Time), and Twitter was "restricted".
What social media did Russia ban? ›
Facebook and Instagram
The social media platforms already had been blocked in Russia. WhatsApp, which is also owned by Meta, is not affected. Meta's president of global affairs, Nick Clegg, said the exception to its rules against violent speech applies only in Ukraine.
What is the new Russian censorship? ›
Russia clamped down harder Friday on news and free speech than at any time in President Vladimir V. Putin's 22 years in power, blocking access to Facebook and major foreign news outlets, and enacting a law to punish anyone spreading “false information” about its Ukraine invasion with up to 15 years in prison.
What social media do Russians use? ›
Leading social media platforms in Russia in 2024, by monthly penetration rate
| Characteristic | Share of respondents |
|---|
| TikTok | 41.9% |
| Viber | 30.1% |
| Instagram | 22.7% |
| Pinterest | 14% |
6 more rowsMar 28, 2024
