UN calls for independent verification of Russian media blocking Telegram

The reasons for blocking Telegram channels of Russian media in the European Union (EU) should be subject to independent verification. This was stated by the official representative of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Elizabeth Trossel on January 6.

"We are not in a position to comment on which organizations made the decision to block specific content," she told RIA Novosti.

According to Trossel, regardless of whether it was initiated by public bodies or the private sector, it is important that the reasons for blocking are clearly stated. In addition, it is also important that such decisions are subject to appropriate independent verification, the spokesperson emphasized.

The blocking of the Telegram channel IZ.RU in a number of European countries became known on December 28, 2024. Its content was unavailable in Spain, Germany and Sweden in case of using a foreign SIM card. Grigory Pashchenko, head of the CyberMoscow project, suggested that the blocking was related to Brussels' long-standing plans to isolate citizens from the most active Russian media.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov pointed to the lack of freedom of speech in Western countries back in late November. He noted that it used to be hard to believe that even respected publications in the West would publish a large number of fakes and customized materials.

Russian media in recent years have often been subjected to various bans in Western countries, including the EU. Thus, in late June, Brussels approved a ban on access to Izvestiya and several other publications, which became known in May. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called the measure a sweep of information space.