London – A young fashion blogger who doesn’t write about politics or comment on the Ukraine war has become the first Russian citizen to be harassed by Vladimir Putin’s government censorship since March for using Instagram, which is considered an “extremist organisation”.
This Wednesday (20), human rights organization Roskomsvoboda reported that Veronika Loginova, who has more than 500,000 followers on the platform, sought legal support after being notified by the Public Ministry about an alleged violation of law.
According to Roskomsvoboda, the statement states that “attracting users to Facebook and Instagram social networks and posting material there, including advertising, can be considered a way to participate in the activities of an extremist organization and create an ambiguous environment.” people can participate”.
Putin’s Censorship Leads to Social Media Blocking
The struggle between Russia and Western digital platforms began before the war in Ukraine with threats and fines.
In early March, as censorship of those opposed to the occupation intensified, the Vladimir Putin government’s communications and media regulator blocked access to Instagram, as well as Facebook, in the country and classified them as an extremist organisation.
This was because Meta refused to comply with the government’s order to remove content containing threats and death demands against Russian soldiers, Vladimir Putin, and Belarusian President Aleksander Lukashenko.
Some influencers who make a lot of money from their online activities have left Russia, others have migrated to Telegram.
Also Read | With Instagram banned in Russia, influencers say goodbye to fans and switch to Telegram
Still, many Russians continued to access platforms via VPN, and the government didn’t care, as in Loginova’s case, as long as the content wasn’t about politics or war.
She continued to share on fashion, beauty, psychology and entrepreneurship on her blog that she created when she was 15 and became a business.
Sarkis Darbinyan, legal director of the Roskomsvoboda project, said that this is the first case of persecution of a citizen of the Russian Federation based on the simple use of Instagram.
Another blogger was indicted under the fake news law enacted in March, but she lives in France and, unlike Veronika Loginova, posted comments about the war.
Also Read | French food blogger one of the first targets of Russia’s fake news law
The statement raised the risk of similar measures being taken against other bloggers and social media users, from low-subscribers to journalists who use Instagram to distribute professional content.
Darbinyan reported that penal clause 282.2 on the activities of an extremist organization provides for up to eight years’ imprisonment for recruiting people into such an organization and up to six years’ imprisonment for joining this organization.
“So, according to the prosecutor’s logic, anyone who invites users to follow his channel could face up to 14 years in prison.”
The influencer, targeted by Putin’s censorship, said in a post on Instagram that two prosecutors searched his home and threatened him with six years in prison, claiming he was “too prominent” on the social network.
The approach took place in August, but has now sought legal aid and made the case public, saying that talks with the prosecutor had not worked.
He said he would no longer use the platform, but wanted to publicize how Russia’s new social media laws are affecting people’s lives.
In the post it says:
“Seriously? ME? An 18-year-old fashion blogger?
Someone who writes about emotional health and never touches on political issues without a blog?
Loginova said in a video that she will not leave Russia
Fortunately, I get support from people who understand the situation. This is not normal. […].
And I want as many people as possible who have followers to share this story. “
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source: Noticias
