In the Council of Europe stands up for Russian Internet resources in Ukraine
Blocking Russian sites is contrary to the principles of media freedom, said the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
Moscow. May 17. INTERFAX.RU — Secretary General of the Council of Europe (COE) thorbjørn Jagland expressed concern about the decree of the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko about blocking Russian sites.
“Blocking social networking, search engines, email services and news websites is contrary to our common understanding of freedom of speech and mass media”, — said in a statement Jagland, transferred on Wednesday to “Interfax” the press service of the COE.
“Moreover, such a complete ban is at odds with the principle of proportionality,” — said the Secretary General.
Wednesday came into force the decree of the President of Ukraine on the introduction of sanctions in relation to social networks “Vkontakte” and “Classmates”, “Mail.ru”, “Yandex” and their services. Access to all services of “Yandex” and Mail.Ru banned for three years.
As reported, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko the decree of may 15, enacted the NSDC decision of 28 April 2017 “On the use of personal special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions)”. The same decree are hereby repealed a number of similar decrees of the President of Ukraine from 2015 and 2016.
In the sanctions list of Ukraine 1228 individuals and legal 468. According to the decision, the sanctions against social networks “Vkontakte” and “Classmates”, “Mail.ru”, “Yandex” and their services. Access to all services of “Yandex” and Mail.Ru banned for three years.
Personal special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions) apply to individuals involved in the conduct of elections to the state Duma of the seventh convocation in the Crimea. In addition, the sanctions apply to legal persons of Ukraine, located in Crimea, in connection with confirmation of the fact of their re-registration under Russian law. The sanctions also apply to individuals-citizens of the Russian Federation (judges, investigators, law enforcement officers) involved in harassment and illegal actions concerning the citizens of Ukraine. In addition, the decree provides for the establishment of a unified sanctions list for individuals and businesses.