The Russian-backed Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) and Luhansk People’s Republic (LNR) in eastern Ukraine on Wednesday said they had blocked access to Facebook and Instagram, in line with Russia’s policy on American-based social networks.
Moscow recognized the two breakaway regions as independent on February 21, and three days later launched a full-blown invasion of Ukraine with a so-called “special military operation” intended in part to protect those regions. Russian speakers there.
“Access to American corporate resources MetaThe DNR’s communications ministry said in a statement that permission for calls of violence against Russian-speaking users on its social network, had been blocked.
“So visit Facebook and Instagram social networks are blocked on the territory of the republic. “
In a separate statement, the LNR Communications Department said it had also blocked access to social networks.
Meta . Platform did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Russia banned Facebook and Instagram in March after a court found Meta guilty of “extremist activity”. Moscow has restricted access to Facebook because it restricts Russian media access to the platform.
Russia’s state media regulator blocked access to Instagram in March after Meta said it would allow social media users in Ukraine to post messages like “Death to Russian invaders”. “.
Meta says the temporary change in its hate speech policy only applies to Ukraine.
Russia has forged close ties with Donetsk and Luhansk, known collectively as the Donbas, since supporting pro-Russian rebels there in 2014 after Moscow annexed Crimea from Ukraine.
The two regions receive financial support from Moscow, use the Russian ruble as currency, and teach Russian language curricula in their schools.
© Thomson Reuters 2022
