According to Interfax and Ria Novosti, this decision is based on a request from the Russian Prosecutor's Office dated February 24, the day the Russian invasion of Ukraine began.
AFP journalists based in Russia were able to see on Friday evening that the Twitter feed was no longer refreshing.
The Russian regulator had already been slowing down the operation of Twitter since last year, accusing the American social network of not removing content deemed "illegal", including those linked to the opposition.
Friday's decision comes on the ninth day of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, following the blocking of Facebook and several independent media, as well as the adoption of a law punishing heavy penalties for those who publish "information lying" about the Russian military or calling for sanctions against Moscow.
© 2022 AFP