Russia Blocks Human Rights Monitor OVD-Information’s Web site

Russia has blocked the web site of OVD-Information, a outstanding human rights monitor monitoring political persecution, the group stated Saturday, as authorities press forward with a crackdown on dissent.

Russia’s Supreme Court docket is contemplating whether or not to close high rights group Memorial, which works with the monitor.

OVD-Information, which tracks opposition protests and likewise supplies authorized help to victims of political persecution, stated the Roskomnadzor media regulator had blocked its web site earlier this week.

“In the meanwhile, now we have not obtained a discover and have no idea the explanation for being blocked,” the group tweeted.

A Roskomnadzor registry of blocked web sites confirmed {that a} Moscow area courtroom had issued a ruling dated December 20 to “restrict” entry to the location.

The web site was not accessible by AFP journalists in Russia on Saturday.

This yr has seen a historic crackdown on Russia’s opposition and unbiased media, beginning with authorities jailing high Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

In September, the justice ministry added OVD-Information to its rising record of “overseas brokers,” a time period with Soviet-era undertones, with the group calling the transfer an “act of political strain”.

Memorial has stated it fears it could possibly be shut down by the tip of the yr.

Prosecutors accuse the rights group of breaching “overseas agent” laws and justifying terrorism by releasing lists of political prisoners that embody banned figures like Navalny.