Russia restricts access to Discord messaging platform: State media

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Russia’s communications watchdog has restricted access to the Discord messaging platform, state media reported on Tuesday.

State news agency Tass, citing the press service of Roskomnadzor, said access to the videogame-centric platform was restricted “due to the violation of the requirements of Russian legislation.”

It said the restriction is necessary to prevent the app’s use for “terrorist and extremist purposes, the recruitment of people to commit them, the sale of drugs, and in connection with the posting of illegal information.”

The ban comes as Roskomnadzor announced last Tuesday that it sent Discord a demand to remove 947 materials it defined as illegal.

A day earlier, a Moscow court imposed a fine of 3.5 million Russian rubles ($36,175) on the company.​​​​​​​