On July 17th, the Russian parliament passed a law making it illegal to search for content classified as "extremist," which includes over 5,000 entries. Among the affected materials are videos from Pussy Riot, designated extremist in 2012. Punishments include fines of up to 5,000 rubles for individuals searching for such content and substantial penalties for promoting VPN services that provide access. Some government allies have voiced concerns, indicating that the law undermines the ability to monitor extremist activities and hinders free speech.
The law criminalizes deliberately searching for any materials deemed "extremist" and includes a list of over 5,000 items, impacting various content types.
Those who search for such content face fines up to 5,000 rubles, while promoting VPNs to access it can cost individuals up to $2,500.
Yekaterina Mizulina, despite her allegiance to the Kremlin, argued that the law hinders her organization's ability to monitor critics of the government.
Critics of the law express concern about its implications for free speech and the ability to engage with dissenting political views.
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