Latest posts by RuNet Echo
Russian rocket Soyuz launches the first OneWeb satellites, tethered to the ground by restrictive legislation
Russians' hopes for censorship-free online access crashed and burned after the authorities imposed strict regulations and full government control of the pioneering satellite Internet program.
USCYBERCOM attack gives Russian legislators new justification for tighter internet controls
Both pro-Kremlin experts and their opponents see the USCYBERCOM's attack on the "troll factory" as ammunition for isolationist policies.
Russian cathedral choir's performance of a song about US nuclear annihilation shows that parody doesn't quite work in 2019
As Russian state TV regularly airs segments simulating total or partial nuclear destruction of the United States, this was bound to raise a few eyebrows.
As Putin preaches ‘sovereignty’ and tech modernization, experts lament loss of online freedoms
As Vladimir Putin promises Russians a faster, more reliable internet, two reports by independent expert groups paint an unrelentingly bleak picture of more crackdowns on online freedom of speech.
Russian public sector workers ordered to ‘like’ social media posts promoting the 2019 Winter Universiade
This is not the first instance of Russian public officials acting as "human bots" to promote the government's agenda online.
Russian ‘anti-fake news’ bill rushed through parliament despite vocal opposition
Both the "anti-fake news" bill and its twin initiative against offending the authorities use Germany and other Western countries' laws as inspiration.
Local radio station in Russia cancels interview with LGBT activists after threats to editor
Homophobic abuse online didn't put the editor off, but anonymous calls threatening violence against her guests did.
Russian feminists flip the script on classic Soviet films
The generation of Russians now in their mid-30s is finding their parents' TV and film role models disappointing by the modern standards of relationships and gender equality.
Russian rapper arrested and unexpectedly released after alleged Kremlin intervention
Husky is no liberal minstrel, but fellow rappers rushed to his support when he was arrested. Then a state TV executive bragged about the Kremlin's efforts to release him.
Russia’s most progressive media outlet finds itself on the wrong side of #MeToo
Kolpakov is the first-ever man to publicly resign over sexual assault accusations in Russia. And he's a #metoo supporter.
Death by bureaucracy? Russian regulators slap independent news site with sky-high fine
"It obviously means bankruptcy and imminent closure for the magazine."
Six red carnations and one severed ram’s head: Deadly threats sent to Russian independent newspaper
The recipient of these grisly messages, the independent investigative newspaper Novaya Gazeta, holds the record for the most of its reporters murdered on the job: six, including Anna Politkovskaya.
Google caves in to Russian demands, censors videos promoting a protest rally
This latest scandal is unfolding as Google is in the middle of an existential crisis, with its employees revolting against what they see as embracing censorship by their company.
Russian journalists killed in Central African Republic
Three Russian journalists were killed today in Central African Republic, at a checkpoint outside the country’s capital Bangui.
The dark side of World Cup fun in Russia: Online mobs are bullying women getting ‘too friendly’ with foreigners
The World Cup euphoria will fade in a few weeks, but hard questions about women's rights in Russia are still lingering, it seems.
Russian journalist forced to resign for criticizing pro-Putin propaganda on Instagram
"We wish the Earth could live in peace, but if our commander in chief Beckons to fight the final battle, we are with you, Uncle Vova!"
Ukrainian authorities stage journalist's murder, taking ‘fake news’ to the next level
"The lesson here is to distrust reports from Ukraine."
Russian anti-corruption activists are jailed for ‘inciting riots’ based on their tweets and retweets
"...here goes another 'organizing a rally by retweet.' Looks like this time they’re just locking up everyone."
Moscow activists say telcos disrupted mobile coverage during protests, at order of police
Poor or disappearing network coverage during mass protest in Russia is not unprecedented, but now activists are saying the telecom companies are intentionally degrading the service quality on police's orders.
