April 18, 2026
“The only ones who definitely want the internet to disappear are the FSB agents.” “Terrible News” with Kirill Martynov
Every Saturday, Kirill Martynov, editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta Europe, comments on the most important events of the week in Russia and the world. Journalists from The Bell found out that the second service of the FSB is responsible for “cheburnet”. New restrictions for VPNs have appeared, and at the same time, a loophole from Pavel Durov for Android owners. The state also continues to interfere in citizens' phones: for refusing to unlock a device at the border, one can get up to 15 days, and extrajudicial access to data is being worked out in parallel. Even Victoria Bonya recorded a video appeal complaining about the situation in the country. But others cannot complain - unless they have fought. New repressions: a criminal case for a hookah on a kulich and a photo with a dildo (it is proposed to punish this with a flogging in the church), prosecution for words on the street about the end of the war. As well as fines bordering on cringe: for throwing a moccasin at Lenin and for a reaction in the form of a poop emoji to a video with military personnel. The state is trying to rewrite history: “Polish Russophobia” in Katyn, as well as the actual destruction of the Gulag History Museum. Now it will be replaced by an exhibition about the “SVO”.
TL;DR
- The FSB's second service is allegedly responsible for controlling "cheburnet" (Russian internet).
- New restrictions are imposed on VPNs, though a loophole for Android users via Pavel Durov exists.
- The state is increasing surveillance on citizens' phones, with potential penalties for refusing to unlock devices at borders.
- New repressive measures include criminal cases for acts like having a hookah on a kulich or posting a photo with a dildo, and prosecution for anti-war statements.
- Fines are being issued for seemingly absurd reasons, such as throwing a moccasin at a Lenin monument.
- The state is attempting to rewrite history, with a focus on "Polish Russophobia" in Katyn and the replacement of the Gulag History Museum with an exhibition on the "SVO."
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