Russian authorities blocked access to the website of the imprisoned Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny on Monday (July 26) before the parliamentary elections. This is their latest attempt to elect the Kremlin as a US-backed trouble. Allies of the maker are excluded.
This move is the latest chapter in the long-term suppression of President Vladimir Putin’s most prominent domestic opponent, and it also blocked the websites of 48 other individuals and organizations connected with Navalny in Russia.
The Russian Internet watchdog Roskomnadzor said in a statement to Reuters that it had taken action to block navalny.com, one of the main sites of the Navalny movement, and other sites at the request of the chief prosecutor.
A Russian court ruled last month that according to the Moscow’s top prosecutor’s allegations, the organization associated with Navalny was “extremist.” They said they tried to instigate a revolution by disrupting the social and political situation in Russia, but they denied it. This allegation.
The ruling effectively declared them illegal and prevented Navalny’s allies from participating in the September elections for the State Duma in the lower house of parliament.
Roskomnadzor said its blocked website has been helping the campaign covered by the court ban to promote and continue illegal activities.
Navalny’s team condemned the move and stated on social media that it is expected that the authorities will soon target its so-called smart voting site, which advises people on how to conduct a tactical vote in September to try to get the ruling United Russia Party’s The candidate stepped down.
It also stated that its resources on YouTube are under pressure, and the company has published an investigation on alleged corruption of Russia’s ruling elite on YouTube.
‘Purge’ From the network
When asked whether Roskomnadzor asked it to delete materials related to Navalny and how to handle such requests, Google did not immediately respond. Alphabet of Google Inc. owns YouTube.
Maria Pevcich, who participated in some of Navalny’s most high-profile investigations, said that the actions of the Russian authorities targeted the locations of individual Navalny allies, the locations of the now defunct campaign headquarters, and the Places where departmental corruption is exposed, such as road construction.
“They blocked all the websites related to us,” Pevcich wrote on Twitter. “They just decided to remove us from the Russian Internet.”
Navalny allies highlighted which of their websites are still running and urged people to download their smart voting apps.
Navalny, Putin’s most prominent domestic critic, was sentenced to 2-1/2 years in prison for violating parole regulations, which he said was fabricated. His imprisonment increased tensions between Russia and the West, which prompted his release.
The United States and Britain condemned the measures against Navalny’s allies as an unfounded blow to Russia’s political opposition.
