OREANDA-NEWS The Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation asked the court to recognize Meta (formerly Facebook) as an extremist community. Also, the security forces insist on blocking the social network Instagram. In turn, the Investigative Committee opened a criminal case on calls to extremism and the promotion of terrorism because of the Meta policy. The company has previously allowed calls for violence against the Russian military.

According to the Prosecutor General's Office, materials are being distributed on Instagram "containing calls to commit violent acts (murders) against citizens of the Russian Federation, including military personnel." In addition, Russian citizens are regularly called to participate in mass riots through the social network, the supervisory authority said.

"In this regard, the Prosecutor General's Office of Russia sent a request to Roskomnadzor to restrict access to the Instagram social network," the Prosecutor General's Office said in a statement.

The agency recalled that Meta temporarily allowed calling for violence against the Russian military in social networks in light of Russia's special operation in Ukraine. Calls for brutality against Russian civilians will remain banned. This was announced by Meta representative Andy Stone on Twitter.

"Such actions of the company's management not only form an idea of the permissibility of terrorist activities, but are also aimed at inciting hatred and enmity towards citizens of the Russian Federation," the Prosecutor General's Office considered and asked the court to recognize Meta as an extremist organization.

The Investigative Committee opened criminal cases under two articles. One of them is connected with the propaganda of terrorism, the other with the incitement of hatred and enmity with the threat of violence.