Russia’s media regulator Roskomnadzor has repeatedly brought administrative cases against media outlets and editors over publications critically describing the agency’s work or questioning the effectiveness of its blocking systems, Mediazona found.
The outlet examined a series of cases under Part 9 of Article 13.15 of Russia’s Administrative Code. The provision establishes liability for disseminating information that Russian authorities consider knowingly false under the guise of reliable reporting.
According to Mediazona, cases were opened over publications concerning technical systems used to counter supposed threats, the possibility of sweeping internet shutdowns, and Roskomnadzor’s own actions.
Courts regularly imposed fines both on media organizations and their editors in such cases. The conclusion that this amounted to a systematic practice is based on Mediazona’s own analysis.