"An outrage that has been elevated to the letter of the law." Roskomnadzor announced that it had blocked the website of a Saratov media outlet for publishing "illegal information." But it never explained what kind of information.
Website of the online publication "Free News" was blocked Last Thursday. And only today, eight days later, did Roskomnadzor respond (https://t.me/fnvolga/24215) to the editors' questions about the reasons for the blocking: "for repeated posting of illegal information." Without providing specifics.
Lawyer for Svobodnye Novosti Denis Rudenko рассказал NotMoscow, who considers this situation to be arbitrary on the part of Roskomnadzor.
The purpose of Federal Law 149, on the basis of which we were blocked, is that the agency, for preventative purposes, warns the editorial staff about illegal information on its website so that it can remove it. the lawyer explained. — If we had refused to do this, the blocking would have been logical. But no one warned us. This is arbitrary action, elevated to the letter of the law.
According to him, the editorial team called the Roskomnadzor hotline, but they had no information about the reasons for the blocking. The agency's press service isn't answering: instead of a dial tone, they're playing the melody from the song "Don't Worry, Be Happy."
Denis Rudenko emphasized that all significant materials in the publication undergo legal review before publication.
There was no illegal information on our website, — he is convinced. — We've received several notifications that we have information regarding suicide methods and techniques, or information about tax evasion. We've taken these into account and removed them. Here, however, we've received no notifications at all.
The editorial team hasn't yet decided what to do next. Theoretically, they could again send letters to Roskomnadzor and the Prosecutor General's Office asking about the reasons for the blocking. They could also take the matter to court.
But, based on the judicial practice that exists in Russia, we have no prospects of victory, — says Rudenko. — The arbitrariness we see now will surely migrate into courtrooms.