Russia on Thursday compared the decision of social media giants to suspend U.S. President Donald Trump's accounts to a "nuclear blast in cyber space" with the consequences hard to predict.
"The decision of U.S. internet platforms to block the head of state can be compared to a nuclear blast in cyber space," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Facebook.
"It's not the destruction that's scary but the consequences," she added.
"A blow has been dealt against democratic values proclaimed by the West."
Trump's Facebook and Instagram accounts were suspended last week following the violent invasion of the U.S. Capitol by a mob of his supporters, which disrupted the certification of President-elect Joe Biden's election victory.
Twitter went a step further by deleting Trump's account, depriving him of his favorite megaphone.
Zakharova pointed to a chorus of critics in the West including German Chancellor Angela Merkel calling the Twitter ban "problematic."
The social media ban, said Zakharova, was one more reason for U.S. authorities to "take care" of their own country instead of criticizing Moscow.
She made the statement after Washington expressed concern over a crackdown on independent media in Russia, among other issues.
… we have a small favor to ask. As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.
Remind me later.
