Thread by @TheStudyofWar

#Putin signed a law on January 25 designating several major Russian language media and investigative outlets, including Meduza, Important Stories, Bellingcat, The Bell, and The Insider as undesirable organizations within #Russia. isw.pub/UkrWar012623

https://twitter.com/TheStudyofWar/status/1618814599318638592

2/ The law prohibits the publication, distribution, or financial support of the organizations and their publications. The Russian Prosecutor General’s Office claimed that Meduza and other outlets threaten the “foundations of the constitutional order and security” of #Russia.

3/ #Wagner Group financier Yevgeny #Prigozhin had notably called for the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office to censor Meduza in July 2022, claiming that the outlet deliberately spread false information to split Russian society.

4/ #Putin has failed, however, to rein in highly critical Russian nationalist milbloggers who have long criticized and undermined the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD), #Kremlin, and even Putin himself, as @TheStudyofWar has previously reported.

5/ #Putin likely hopes to cultivate a group of loyal milbloggers to undermine other rising opponents, such as #Prigozhin and Chechen Republic Head Ramzan #Kadyrov. isw.pub/UkrWar012623