Russia has added the spokesman of , which owns Facebook and Instagram, to a wanted list, according to an online database maintained by the country91裸聊视频檚 interior ministry.
Russian state agency Tass and independent news outlet Mediazona first reported that Meta communications director Andy Stone was included on the list Sunday, weeks after Russian authorities in October classified Meta as a 91裸聊视频渢errorist and extremist91裸聊视频� organization, opening the way for possible criminal proceedings against Russian residents using its platforms.
The interior ministry91裸聊视频檚 database doesn91裸聊视频檛 give details of the case against Stone, stating only that he is wanted on criminal charges. Meta didn91裸聊视频檛 immediately respond to a request for comment.
According to Mediazona, an independent news website that covers Russia91裸聊视频檚 opposition and prison system, Stone was put on the wanted list in February 2022, but authorities made no related statements at the time and no news media reported on the matter until this week.
In March this year, Russia91裸聊视频檚 federal Investigative Committee opened a criminal investigation into Meta. It alleged that the company91裸聊视频檚 actions following on Feb. 24, 2022 amounted to inciting violence against Russians.
After Russian troops moved into Ukraine, Stone announced temporary changes to Meta91裸聊视频檚 hate speech policy to allow for 91裸聊视频渇orms of political expression that would normally violate (its) rules, like violent speech such as 91裸聊视频榙eath to the Russian invaders.91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�
In the same statement, Stone added that 91裸聊视频渃redible calls for violence against Russian civilians91裸聊视频� would remain banned.
Mediazona on Sunday claimed that an unspecified Russian court issued an arrest warrant earlier this month for Stone on charges of 91裸聊视频渇acilitating terrorism.91裸聊视频� The report didn91裸聊视频檛 specify the source of that information, which couldn91裸聊视频檛 be independently verified.
Western social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram and X 91裸聊视频� formerly known as Twitter 91裸聊视频� were popular with young Russians before the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, but have since been blocked in the country as part of a broad crackdown on independent media and other forms of critical speech. They are now only accessible via VPN.
In April 2022, Russia also formally barred Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg from entering the country.
