Roskomnadzor to block Instagram in Russia for calls for violence against Russians - service

MOSCOW. March 11 (Interfax) - Instagram has been blocked in Russia following the demand of the Russian Prosecutor General's Office for refusing to delete calls for violence against Russians, including servicemen, Russia's telecommunications watchdog Roskomnadzor said.

"Based on the demand of the Russian Prosecutor General's Office, access to the Instagram social network, owned by Meta Platforms, Inc., will be restricted in the territory of the Russian Federation. Information materials containing calls for violence against citizens of the Russian Federation, including servicemen, are spread on the Instagram social network," the service said.

According to Roskomnadzor, Meta spokesperson Andy Stone said in a statement on March 11 that "the company has lifted a ban on its social networks for citizens of a number of countries to post information containing calls for violence against citizens of the Russian Federation, including servicemen."