In response to President Vladimir Putin’s accusations of “organizing an armed rebellion” against Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner paramilitary group, Russian internet service providers have blocked access to Google News. At least five major Russian telecoms, including Rostelecom, U-LAN, and Telplusl, are reported to be blocking web users within the country from accessing the popular news aggregator. The move comes after Putin’s strong condemnation of Prigozhin’s alleged actions.
According to NetBlocks, an internet monitor cited by The New York Times, the block on Google News is the latest in a series of restrictions imposed on Western tech platforms in Russia. Over the past year, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, several Western tech companies either withdrew from the country or had their services partially or fully blocked by the telecom regulator Roskomnadzor. Notable platforms such as Facebook and Twitter have faced limited accessibility within Russia since March of last year.
The recent events leading to the blockage of Google News have their roots in Wagner Group mercenaries crossing the border from Ukraine into Rostov-on-Don. The city, which hosts Russia’s southern military headquarters and is situated near the Sea of Azov, was allegedly taken by the Wagner forces with little resistance from the regular army. Reports suggest that the Wagner forces are now advancing north toward Moscow. Prigozhin, who is not only the leader of the Wagner Group but also the funder and creator of the Internet Research Agency, known for its involvement in Russia’s 2016 US election interference campaign, has vowed to topple Russia’s Defense Ministry in response to a claimed missile attack by the regular army against Wagner personnel in Ukraine.
Putin, addressing the situation, has characterized Prigozhin’s rebellion as a “deadly threat” to Russian statehood and has warned of severe consequences for those who support the paramilitary group. He stated, “Everyone who deliberately embarked on the path of betrayal, who prepared an armed rebellion, chose the path of blackmail and terrorist methods—they will suffer inevitable punishment,” as reported by The Washington Post.
The blocking of Google News and the ongoing restrictions on Western tech platforms within Russia underscore the tense geopolitical climate and the increasing control exerted by the Russian government over online information. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the access to these platforms will evolve and what further actions will be taken by both the Russian authorities and the international community in response to these developments.
