Construction company in Sochi was forced to pay a blogger for undisclosed reasons
In a recent development, a blogger operating a real estate channel on the "Yandex Zen" platform was sentenced to 2.5 years in a general-regime colony by a district court in the Krasnodar region. The blogger was found guilty of extortion after demanding one million rubles from a construction company and threatening to spread false information about the company's dishonesty on social media.
The verdict, issued by the district court in the hosting region, was upheld by the Krasnodar Regional Court following an appeal. The blogger was arrested during the money handover.
The laws and regulations in Russia regarding online extortion and social media threats are enforced through strict internet control measures. These measures include restrictions on foreign messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram, with the Russian government partially restricting voice call functions on these platforms. This is in line with the broader legal and regulatory framework aimed at combating online crimes with digital surveillance and content control.
The blogger's actions fell under the Russian Criminal Code provisions on extortion and threats. If the demand was not met, the dissemination of false information could have damaged the company's reputation.
While no details about the FSB's involvement in the case were provided, it is known that the construction firm's management contacted the Federal Security Service (FSB) regarding the threat. No new information about the specific construction company was provided.
Recent laws and regulations signed by President Vladimir Putin have further tightened control over foreign apps and online content, requiring compliance with Russian legislation, including data access for law enforcement. This includes restricting or blocking foreign apps that do not cooperate and promoting domestic alternatives such as the government-controlled MAX messenger.
In the Krasnodar region, as part of Russia, these national regulatory actions and laws apply uniformly. Although there are no publicly available region-specific statutes distinct from federal provisions, Krasnodar authorities would enforce Russia's criminal code provisions related to extortion, threats, and cybercrime.
This case serves as a reminder of the serious consequences of online extortion and threats in Russia. It also highlights the country's commitment to combating such crimes through strict internet control measures and cooperation demands for digital platform compliance.
- Despite the restrictions on foreign messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram, the Russian government has taken actions to combat online crimes such as extortion and threats, enforcing this through strict internet control measures within the Russian Criminal Code.
- The Krasnodar authorities, upholding the national regulatory actions and laws that apply uniformly in Russia, have demonstrated their commitment to addressing online extortion and threats by enforcing the country's criminal code provisions related to these offenses.
