Roskomnadzor, Russia’s state-run media watchdog, has issued a statement banning the media from mentioning Ukrainian nationalist organizations officially recognized by the government as extremist. Media outlets only allowed to mention them “in a negative light,” using characteristics like “radical,” “extremist,” or “nationalist.”
When mentioning such organizations, the media must also indicate that they were banned in Russia. In its statement, Roskomnadzor gives a list of five Ukrainian nationalist organizations, including Pravy Sektor, though the Justice Ministry’s registry of extremist groups includes a total of 41 organizations.
In accordance with Article 16 of Russia’s Mass Media Law, outlets that fail to comply with the stated regulations are subject to a warning. In accordance with Article 13.15 of Russia’s Administrative Offenses Code, they are also subject to a fine.
The Justice Ministry has the power to revoke, by court order, the accreditation of any media outlet that’s received more than one government warning in a single 12-month period.