Blockade of Khodorkovsky

Mikhail Khodorkovsky urged Russians to help in the fight against blocking his sites

The founder of Open Russia, Mikhail Khodorkovsky on December 12, announced in his Telegram channel that Roskomnadzor, without a court decision, at the request of the General Prosecutor's Office, blocked the sites related to him, namely: “Open Russia”, “Khodorkovsky.ru”, “Open Russia”, “Open University”, the site “Instead of Putin” and others.

The Prosecutor General’s Office soon explained that blocked information portals allegedly distribute “information materials of foreign non -governmental organizations, whose activities are recognized as undesirable in the country,” which is a violation of Art. 15.3 Federal Law "On Information".

The Open Russia did not agree with the statement of the Prosecutor General’s Office.

“Roskomnadzor refers to article 15.3 of the Federal Law“ On Information ”. It says that the Prosecutor General’s Office may demand without trial to block sites calling for extremism or riots. From November 25, a item was added there about the website of unwanted organizations. Since the prosecutor’s office is not used to contradicting himself and confusing us with the undesirable London, it may be it. Of course, no one explained anything to us, ”they said in Open Russia.

In OR, they insist that the organization is not undesirable. Only the nursing foreign organizations “Or (Otkrytaya Rossia) (UK)”, Institute of Modern Russia, Inc (“Institute of Modern Russia”) and Open Russia Civic Movement, Open Russia (public networking Russia, Open Russia,, are recognized as such. UK).

Khodorkovsky called the blocking "a criminal offense against the management order." He stated that lawyers will demand through the court the restoration of the site. The former owner of the Yukos called on public organizations of democratic countries, concerned about violation of the fundamental rights and freedoms of man in Russia, to support these appeals to law enforcement agencies and send their analogues to local parliamentary groups that are responsible for international legal cooperation.

“We will continue the work of the editorial office and will release materials on social networks and on my personal (as a citizen of the Russian Federation) domains. I appeal to Russian citizens, regardless of their consent or disagreement with the views of the editorials of blocked sites: this is an attack to each of you to freedom of information, ”Khodorkovsky wrote.