Access to Chechen separatists' websites to be restricted in Novosibirsk Region

The prosecutor's office of the Novosibirsk Region has sent a presentation to local Internet providers asking them to restrict access of their clients to a number of websites, which are, in the opinion of law enforcers, extremist in nature. Among these websites, there are some resources of Chechen separatists.

"We're conducting daily monitoring of mass media for revealing extremist orientation. We take prosecutor's measures, up to initiation of criminal cases," said Natalia Markasova, senior assistant to the Public Prosecutor of the Novosibirsk Region.

According to the "Interfax", Ms Markasova has noted that the Internet companies should block the following news agencies: "Kavkaz-Centre", "Chechen-Press", "Daimokhk", "Jama'at Shariat", "Imam-TV", "Ichkeria-Info", "Free Caucasus" and "Kavkaz-Info".

This spring, the officials of the General Prosecutor's Office proposed amendments to the laws on mass media and counteraction to extremism. According to the amendments, lists of the websites recognized to be extremist should be published, and Internet providers shall block the resources on the lists.

In the opinion of Rashid Nurgaliev, Russian Minister of Interior, the issue of fixing criminal liability for propaganda of extremism and terrorism in the Internet becomes more and more persistent. "One can find there recipes of making bombs, methods of counteracting militia, penetration into bank and classified information networks, and techniques of deteriorating criminal cases and escaping from responsibility."