Certain activity on social networks recognized as extremist in Russia can lead to serious legal consequences, up to criminal liability. This was reported by Ilya Rusyaev, managing partner of Rusyaev & Partners law firm.
According to Ilya Rusyaev, a new law enforcement practice has emerged in light of current events.
The prosecutor's office issued a warning to a citizen about the inadmissibility of violating the law due to his activity on Instagram* after the Meta** company (the owner of this social network) was recognized as an extremist organization in the Russian Federation. The district court refused to satisfy the claim to cancel the warning.
Now, posting materials and calling for subscriptions on social networks blocked by Roskomnadzor in the Russian Federation is considered by law enforcement officials as aiding extremism based on the law "On Counteracting Extremist Activity."
In the given case, the appeal did not help — the decision remained in force.
The definition clarifies that "involvement in extremist activity" (part 1.1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) includes calls to subscribe and advertising accounts on banned social networks.
Ilya Rusyaev also emphasized that the mere fact of using a social network does not constitute a crime. However, encouraging other users to subscribe is now interpreted as a violation of the law and may be qualified as a criminal offense.
* Social network recognized as extremist in Russia
** Organization banned in Russia
Earlier, www1.ru reported that the consequences of blocking foreign social networks in Russia have become known.
Read materials on the topic:
A special program for blocking content on the Web has been developed in Russia