Writing for Yezhednevny Zhurnal, columnist Marianna Tishchenko discusses the various forms of pressure that the Russian authorities have used to stifle free speech on blogs and journals on the Russian Internet.
Russia: Freedom of Speech Online in 2010
By Marianna Tishchenko
February 10, 2011
Yezhednevny Zhurnal
With the Internet rising in influence as the single most important source of information (40% of Russian citizens use the Runet), the issue of online freedom of expression has become significantly more relevant. This year, the Internet became a platform for political and social mobilization in Russia. However, judging by the reaction of the Russian authorities, who strive to suppress activities in cyberspace, the government does not see online activism in a particularly positive light.
At the same time as ordinary Russians (who are, by the way, the most active users of social websites in the world) have begun to rely more ...