Russian Internet Watch Agency Takes Navalny Sites Offline

Russia’s internet censorship agency Roskomnadzor has taken down 49 websites linked to Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. His close assistant Leonid Volkov reported this on social media on Monday.

This includes the personal website of the imprisoned opponent and the website of his main organizations. At the end of June, the Russian judicial system still considered them extremists.

According to Volkov, who lives in exile in Lithuania, the measures are aimed at further impeding the activities of Navalny’s supporters in the run-up to the parliamentary elections in September. “But we will soon know how to overcome all this,” Volkov said.

Spinal activity

The internet has been the backbone of Navalny’s political activism for more than a decade. He began as a fighter against corruption, abuse of power and the influence of wealthy businessmen in and around the Kremlin. His actions became known throughout the country thanks to the Internet, and numerous demonstrations and actions were organized online.

Navalny is currently serving a 2.5-year sentence in connection with a conditional conviction from years ago. He was not to comply when he recovered in Germany from poisoning during his stay in Siberia. He blames the Kremlin for trying to assassinate him.