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Russia Seeks 6 Years in Prison for Medic for Criticizing Ukraine War

Prosecutors asked to find Moscow pediatrician Nadezhda Buyanova guilty of spreading “fake news” about the army during a private appointment.

Russia Bans Messaging Platform Discord

Russia’s telecoms watchdog accused the U.S.-based platform of failing to prevent “messaging for terrorist and extremist purposes.”

U.S. Urges Big Tech to Boost Anti-Censorship Tools for Russians – Reuters

U.S. government-backed Open Technology Fund has been financing several American firms to offer free virtual private networks to Russians.

Newspaper Publisher in Siberia Jailed 8 Years Over War ‘Fakes’

Sergei Mikhailov was arrested in April 2022 after publishing information about the Russian army’s mass killing of civilians in Ukraine.

Russia Blames Telegram, WhatsApp Outage on Cyberattack as Experts Point to Censorship

Russian authorities blame a DDoS attack. Independent experts point the finger at Roskomnadzor.

Russia Opens 10K Cases for 'Discrediting' Army Since Invasion – Medizona

Most cases came in the first months of the war, with the total number of charges reaching 5,614 by the end of 2022.

Russia Blocks Signal Messenger For ‘Violating’ Country’s Legislation

Signal is considered to be one of the most secure messaging apps and is used by many independent Russian journalists and opposition activists.

As Russia Throttles YouTube, Exiled Opposition Voices Prepare for Total Blackout

For the exiled opposition and independent media, losing YouTube would mean losing a critical means of reaching millions inside Russia.

opinion Stanislav Shakirov

What Should Russians Do If VPNs Are Banned?

The Kremlin has been slow in the cat-and-mouse game for a free internet. But there are steps Russians can take to beat future censorship.

Russian Duolingo Removes LGBTQ+ References in Censorship Compliance

The order came after conservative activists spotted phrases like “Ben and Peter love each other” and “Clara met Maria at a lesbian bar."

YouTube Blocks Anti-War Videos at Russia’s Request – Agentstvo

It also notified the human rights watchdog OVD-Info that one of its channels may be blocked after it recently received a complaint from Roskomnadzor.

Russia Creates Book Censorship Body – Vedomosti

A major publisher has already stopped selling books by U.S. authors James Baldwin and Michael Cunningham, as well as Russian writer Vladimir Sorokin, for...

‘Unbearable’ Military Censorship Forces Closure of Novosibirsk Newspaper

“We tried to live under military censorship for two years. I can say now that it’s unbearable,” Kurier.Sreda’s editor-in-chief wrote in a farewell...

Russia Opens Criminal Case Against Journalist Zygar Over ‘War Fakes’

Mikhail Zygar is reportedly accused of spreading false information about Russian atrocities in the Ukrainian city of Bucha.

Kremlin Says No Plans ‘Yet’ to Block VPN Services

The news comes a day after the head of the Safe Internet League claimed the Russian government will “most likely” block VPNs by March 1.

EU Sanctions Russia’s Chief Denunciator Mizulina Over Free Speech Abuses

The EU said Yekaterina Mizulina's Free Internet League silences Russian anti-war content creators and reinforces government censorship.

Russia Handing Out More Jail Sentences Under War Censorship Laws in 2023 – Kommersant

Violations of Russia's laws against “discrediting” and spreading “fake news” about the military are more likely to result in a prison sentence...

opinion Ivan Filippov

Censorship in Russian Cinema Isn’t What You Think

The system of self-censorship artists have relied on for years is no longer enough to save projects from cancellation.

opinion Taisia Bekbulatova

Why Street Interviews in Russia Aren't Your Regular Vox Pops

Journalists love street interviews for their candidness and spontaneity. But in Russia, people don’t feel free to speak. If they do, anonymity is a myth...

Russia Jails Exiled War Critics 11 Years in Absentia Over 'Fakes'

Authorities accuse Ruslan Leviev and Michael Nacke of "fabricating evidence" in a March 2022 video report on Russian attacks in Ukraine.

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