Europe 1 with AFP 3 p.m., April 15, 2022
Russia has blocked the website of French radio RFI, which broadcasts information in fifteen languages including Russian, in the midst of a crackdown on critics of the offensive in Ukraine.
The reason for the blockage was not specified.
It would be a response to a request from the Russian General Prosecutor's Office.
Russia has blocked the website of French radio RFI, which broadcasts information in fifteen languages including Russian, in the midst of a crackdown on critics of the offensive in Ukraine.
The www.rfi.fr site is now on the list of sites blocked in Russia by the telecommunications regulator Roskomnadzor, AFP journalists noted on Friday, who could not open the media site without a virtual private network (VPN). .
The pressure reinforced by the Russian authorities
Rozkomnadzor did not specify the reason for the blockage, indicating only that he responded to a request from the Russian General Prosecutor's Office.
Funded by the French state, RFI has dozens of correspondents around the world, as well as a Russian-speaking service based in France.
This medium is renowned in particular for its coverage of Africa.
Since the offensive in Ukraine on February 24, the Russian authorities have greatly increased their pressure on the last independent media and critics of the Kremlin present in the country.
Dozens of Russian and foreign media sites, including the BBC's, have already been blocked in Russia.
Also, several social networks like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram have been made inaccessible.
Under recently passed laws, publishing information about the conflict considered false by the authorities is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.