MOSCOW -- Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets of Moscow on July 23 to protest Internet censorship and demand the resignation of the head of Russia's state media regulator.
The protest came amid a broad crackdown on online speech in recent years that rights activists say is targeting legitimate dissent under the pretext of battling extremism.
Organizers of the rally, which received official permission from Moscow authorities, called for the rehabilitation of Internet users convicted for reposting material on social networks.
Protesters also called for the sacking of Aleksandr Zharov, the head of Roskomnadzor, the state agency that plays a central role in regulating online speech.
Demonstrators chanted slogans that included "No to censorship, no to dictatorship!" and "Down with the police state!" They also adapted a slogan against Russian President Vladimir Putin frequently chanted at opposition rallies: "Russia without Putin and censorship!"
The protest came two days after Russia's lower house of parliament passed a bill that would prohibit the use of Internet proxy services, including virtual private networks, or VPNs.
The bill, approved in its third and final reading on July 21, would also ban the anonymous use of mobile messaging services.
It will face a single vote in the upper house before going to Putin, who rarely rejects bills adopted by the Kremlin-controlled legislature.
Sarkis Darbinyan, head of the Center for the Defense of Digital Rights, a Moscow-based advocacy group, said he believes the solid turnout for the rally was driven by "typical Internet users" who are "tired of the volume of crazy laws."
He specifically cited the bill that would ban the use of proxy services and the anonymous use of mobile messaging services.
"This really does create problems for the connectivity of the Russian segment of the Internet and for access to services," Darbinyan told RFE/RL. "I think this is why many citizens truly want to come out and openly state their opposition to such ham-fisted regulation of the Internet."
Police estimated the turnout for the demonstration at around 800 people. Opposition activists frequently accuse authorities of playing down the size of public protests.
OVD Info, a website that monitors detentions of political activists, reported that three people had been detained at the rally -- one for distributing leaflets promoting Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny.
Two of the detainees were released later in the day, OVD Info reported, including the minor reportedly hauled in for the Navalny leaflets.
The Washington-based rights group Freedom House says Internet freedoms continued to slide in Russia last year, and other international watchdogs have criticized the country's treatment of online speech as well.
Russian officials have repeatedly rejected such criticism. Vyacheslav Volodin, the current speaker of the lower house of parliament, said last year that the Internet in Russia is "more free than in the United States."
In one recent high-profile case, a Russian blogger was convicted of inciting hatred and insulting religious believers' feelings with videos he posted on YouTube -- including one showing him playing Pokemon Go in a church.
The blogger, Ruslan Sokolovsky, was handed a 3-1/2 year suspended sentence that was reduced by more than a year earlier this month.
Sokolovsky was also added to an official list of "terrorists and extremists" maintained by Russia's Federal Financial Monitoring Service.
The rest is here:
Russian Protesters Rally Against Internet Censorship - RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty
- Russian Censorship: Tor, Anonymous VPNs Could Be Target Of Next Crackdown, MP Warns - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Russian Censorship: Tor, Anonymous VPNs Could Be Target Of Next Crackdown, Kremlin Warns - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Censorship is no way to hold a debate - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Irreverent: A Celebration of Censorship - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- More online censorship coming to closed countries, says report - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- New book retraces the idea of censorship - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Strike Against SOPA & PIPA - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Censorship - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Sonam Kapoor: I Don't Believe In Censorship! Supports AIB roast! - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- FINAL FANTASY XIV: Unnecessary Censorship #4 - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- China 'great firewall' expands to step up Internet censorship - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- DIRTY GUILD WARS 2: The Voice Cast - Unnecessary Censorship - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Into the Fray Episode 47: NFL Censorship - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Weekly Rewind "Feb 1st" Facebook Censorship? - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Street Fighter 3 2nd Impact CENSORED - Akuma's Defeat Portrait's Blood - Video Game Censorship - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Inside WM: Is Censorship Ever Okay? - Ep. 3 - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- China Targets Virtual Private Networks In Censorship Push - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Tricks to Beat Internet Censorship (On Assignment) - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Censorship and Anal Sex - Video Clip with Remi Newman - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Censorship and Graphic Content Warnings - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- KIDS vs. FOOD - Unnecessary Censorship - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Christian Censorship of Truthiracy - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- FaceBook Censorship Video Featuring The M48 War Hammer - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Youtube Media Censorship - #NWO 134 - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Listen To "Cyberspace Spirit," China's Anthem To Internet Censorship - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Facebook self-censorship: What happens to the posts you ... - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Unnecessary Censorship of a bunch of Cartoons! - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- DAT CENSORSHIP! - Let's Play Saints Row IV #3 (Playthrough) - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- The Rundown Live #414 Open Lines (Corruption,Waking Up,Censorship) - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Facebook To Implement Chinese Style Internet Censorship - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Paris Fashion Week Debuts Butt Plugs in Reaction to Censorship - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Facebook Censorship: What They're Not Telling You - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Best of Unnecessary Censorship Compilation by Jimmy Kimmel - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Censorship: When Truth Becomes a Casualty - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Ice Climber CENSORED - Yeti/Seal Enemy - Video Game Censorship - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- FaceBook Censorship Video Featuring The M48 Tomahawk - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Censorship: The Story Telling Podcast #73 - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Rape scene in Hotline Miami 2 and censorship - The Tara Show - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- FINAL FANTASY XIV: Unnecessary Censorship #3 - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Destiny Unnecessary Censorship - Censored Cutscenes - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- What's Cool in China? Censorship, Teenage Couples, Gay Guys - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- YOUR Thumbs UP Vanish! + Google Censorship...a Way Around It - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Zoom Censorship Examples 9-11 to Bosoms Version 2 - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Let's Play The Forest | Part 2 | Censorship! - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- INTEL Museum censorship - Video - February 14th, 2015 [February 14th, 2015]
- Proxy Database - Access Restricted Information, Bypass Censorship! - Video - February 14th, 2015 [February 14th, 2015]
- Criminal Girls Invite Only CENSORED - Punish/Motivate Time/Spanking - Video Game Censorship - Video - February 14th, 2015 [February 14th, 2015]
- Let's Try: Stay Dead Evolution: Nazi Censorship - Video - February 14th, 2015 [February 14th, 2015]
- Loser Laowai on Censorship in China Part 1 - Video - February 14th, 2015 [February 14th, 2015]
- Censorship? - - Project Censored - February 15th, 2015 [February 15th, 2015]
- Censorship | American Civil Liberties Union - February 15th, 2015 [February 15th, 2015]
- Censorship Update: My channel is back! - Video - February 15th, 2015 [February 15th, 2015]
- Alex Kidd In The Enchanted Castle CENSORED - Rock Paper Scissors - Video Game Censorship - Video - February 15th, 2015 [February 15th, 2015]
- Internet Censorship - Big Brother is Watching Everything - YouTube - Video - February 15th, 2015 [February 15th, 2015]
- What is Censorship? - Global Internet Liberty Campaign ... - February 16th, 2015 [February 16th, 2015]
- GSC Owner Forces Censorship of Youtube Video - Video - February 16th, 2015 [February 16th, 2015]
- Before It's News Lisa Haven Used To Be A Skeptic! (On Chrislam, Facebook Censorship, The Madhi) - Video - February 16th, 2015 [February 16th, 2015]
- Mortal Kombat Shaolin Monks CENSORED - Intro Cutscene/Movie - Video Game Censorship - Video - February 16th, 2015 [February 16th, 2015]
- Top Censored Gaming - Sexy Edition Vol. 1 - Best Video Game Censorship - Video - February 16th, 2015 [February 16th, 2015]
- Soul Calibur CENSORED - Mitsurugi/Arthur Character - Video Game Censorship - Video - February 16th, 2015 [February 16th, 2015]
- Censorship Moments in Rooster Teeth - Video - February 17th, 2015 [February 17th, 2015]
- Chinas Internet Censorship Agency Has Its Own Anthem And We Translated It - Video - February 17th, 2015 [February 17th, 2015]
- Manga Censorship Discussion - Video - February 17th, 2015 [February 17th, 2015]
- Top Censored Covers - Gaming Box Art Vol. 1 - Best Video Game Censorship - Video - February 18th, 2015 [February 18th, 2015]
- Cars 2 CENSORED - Intro Cutscene/Movie - Video Game Censorship - Video - February 18th, 2015 [February 18th, 2015]
- Tuff E Nuff CENSORED - Gameplay's Blood - Video Game Censorship - Video - February 18th, 2015 [February 18th, 2015]
- Carmageddon (PC) CENSORED - Pedestrians & Blood - Video Game Censorship - Video - February 18th, 2015 [February 18th, 2015]
- Carmageddon (PC) CENSORED - Intro Cutscene/Movie - Video Game Censorship - Video - February 18th, 2015 [February 18th, 2015]
- Carmageddon 64 CENSORED - Pedestrians & Blood - Video Game Censorship - Video - February 18th, 2015 [February 18th, 2015]
- Evil Zone CENSORED - Erel Plowse's Outfit - Video Game Censorship - Video - February 18th, 2015 [February 18th, 2015]
- Pilotwings 64 CENSORED -Turin Shroud's Jesus Christ Face/Everfrost Island - Video Game Censorship - Video - February 18th, 2015 [February 18th, 2015]
- D2 CENSORED - Inro Cutscene/Movie - Video Game Censorship - Video - February 18th, 2015 [February 18th, 2015]
- Another World (Out Of This World) CENSORED - Nudity - Video Game Censorship - Video - February 18th, 2015 [February 18th, 2015]
- D2 CENSORED - Jannie's Grandpa Boss/Tentacle - Video Game Censorship - Video - February 18th, 2015 [February 18th, 2015]
- OBAMA WANTS INTERNET CENSORSHIP, START A NEW WAR, FORCIBLY VACCINATE YOU, AND SIGN THE TPP. - Video - February 18th, 2015 [February 18th, 2015]
- Silent Hill CENSORED - Grey Child/Mumbler Enemies - Video Game Censorship - Video - February 18th, 2015 [February 18th, 2015]
- Mario Party CENSORED - Mini Games/Luigi & Wario Losing - Video Game Censorship - Video - February 18th, 2015 [February 18th, 2015]
- Breath Of Fire 4 CENSORED - Ursula Dropping Pants For Sailors - Video Game Censorship - Video - February 18th, 2015 [February 18th, 2015]
- Breath Of Fire 4 CENSORED - Fou-Lu Decapitating Emperor Soniel - Video Game Censorship - Video - February 18th, 2015 [February 18th, 2015]
- Resident Evil 2 CENSORED - Player Death Scenes/Animations - Video Game Censorship - Video - February 18th, 2015 [February 18th, 2015]