Prosecutor General's Office applies to court for banning Meta operations in Russia

MOSCOW. March 11 (Interfax) - The Russian Prosecutor General's Office has lodged a motion with a court for branding Meta Platforms Inc. as an extremist organization.

"Consistent with the Federal Law on Countering Extremist Activities, the Russian Prosecutor General's office has lodged a motion with a court for designating Meta Platforms Inc. as an extremist organization and banning its operations in the territory of the Russian Federation," the Office said on Friday.

"Given the existence of formal elements of crimes defined by Part 2 Article 205.2 of the Russian Criminal Code (terrorist propaganda) and Paragraph A, Part 2, Article 282 of the Russian Criminal Code (instigation of hatred and enmity with a threat of violence), materials have been directed to the Russian Investigative Committee for the possible opening of a criminal case," it said.