Russian media watchdog blacklists shops linked to Wagner mercenary chief

Russia’s media watchdog blacklisted no less than 5 media shops affiliated with Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and blocked their web sites in Russia. The transfer got here after Wagner fighters took management of a Russian army headquarters and superior on Moscow in what seems to have been an tried revolt.

As of Saturday, web sites of the RIA FAN information company and 4 on-line information portals managed by Prigozhin’s Patriot media holding firm “People’s News”, “Neva News”, “Politics Today” and “Economy Today” – had been listed on a register of blacklisted websites maintained by the communications watchdog, Roskomnadzor.

Unconfirmed stories in Russian information shops Friday claimed that Prigozhin himself had ordered a shut down of St. Petersburg-based Patriot. Prigozhin has indirectly confirmed or denied the stories.

Patriot, based in 2019 to deliver collectively Prigozhin’s media and web belongings, included the Internet Research Agency, the so-called “troll farm” linked to Russian makes an attempt to meddle in U.S. elections.

Patriot director Yevgeny Zubarev mentioned this week that the Internet Research Agency, which was tasked with conducting on-line affect operations to advance Russian pursuits, had operated underneath Prigozhin’s management since 2009 earlier than being introduced underneath the Patriot umbrella. .

In the run-up to the 2016 U.S. presidential election, IRA staff often posed as Americans to supply monetary assist to U.S. protest actions tackling socially divisive subjects, in line with a 2017 investigation by Russian newspaper RBC.

The investigation, based mostly on accounts from a number of IRA staff, recognized greater than 100 Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts it mentioned had been used to contact U.S.-based activists providing assist with organizing protests and occasions, specializing in race relations and gun rights amongst different front-page points.

Prigozhin admitted in November that he had interfered within the 2016 election.

He and his fighters escaped prosecution and had been provided refuge in Belarus final week after the president of Belarus helped dealer a deal to finish what seemed to be an armed revolt by the mercenary group.