Russia blocks opposition websites amidst Crimea tensions
Russia has launched a fresh crackdown on opposition voices in the country amidst an ongoing dispute over the Crimea region of the Ukraine, scheduled to hold an independence referendum on Sunday.The prosecutor general’s office at the Kremlin has ordered Russian internet service providers to take down a handful of websites linked to opponents of president Vladimir Putin, including the blog of chess champion Garry Kasparov.
Not only did Putin block access to opposition news sites in Russia, but Rus govt contacted our admin to turn off servers. They work fast.
— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) March 13, 2014In an official statement the prosecutor general said: “These sites contain incitement to illegal activity and participation in public events held in violation of the established order.”The move follows earlier efforts to block over a dozen Ukrainian websites criticising Russia’s military intervention in the region.