The Russian media regulator has blocked the newspaper Springer, which also provides information in Russian for a few days.
Russian media regulator (or currently more likely the censorship authority) Roskomnadzor has blocked access to publisher Axel Springer’s Bild.de website for readers in Russia. The editor-in-chief of “Bild”, Johannes Boie, advised readers in Russia to switch to the “Bild” channel on the social network Telegram.
A reason for the blockade in Russia was not given. However, since the end of February, “Bild” has also published articles in Russian so that, according to Boie, “Russians can find out more about the situation in Ukraine”. Appearances from other German media were still available on Sunday. However, a large number of government-critical websites are blocked in Russia. Recently, the authorities also blocked the social networks Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Facebook and Instagram were classified as extremists.
“The Russian censor’s blocking of Bild.de confirms us in our journalistic work for democracy, freedom and human rights. And encourages us to give Russian citizens even more opportunities to know news and facts beyond the Russian government to inform propaganda.”, said Bull.
Moscow authorities increased pressure on critical domestic and foreign media even before the war in Ukraine. This is intended to suppress content that is false or extremist from a Russian point of view or that reports the war in a way other than specified. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs created an entire column on its website with alleged “fake news” also in Western media.
Also on Sunday, the website of Russian journalist Alexander Nezorov was blocked. He went from being a supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin to being a critic.
(Aug./red.)