ARTICLE 19 welcomes the report of the Special Rapporteur on the Russian Federation, which documents the 'deliberate strategy to wipe out dissent'.

The Russian Federation continues to tighten its control over the right to freedom of expression online and to entrench its 'digital iron curtain'. The introduction of the newmessaging app MAX - combined with recent restrictions on widely-used messaging services Telegram and WhatsApp - marks a dangerous escalation of digital repression. These steps effectively sever safe and secure communications for over 100 million users of messaging platforms in the country, isolating them further from their families, colleagues, and the global community.

We are equally concerned with the crackdown on VPNs, one of the last tools enabling people in Russia to bypass censorship and access independent information. By targeting VPNs, the authorities aim to eliminate one of the lasting avenues of digital freedom.

These developments are part of Russia's broader pursuit of so-called 'digital sovereignty',an effort to replace global platforms with state-controlled applications integrated into government services. Such measures represent not digital sovereignty, but digital isolation.

We stand in solidarity with all those in Russia who continue to defend their fundamental rights against escalating government control.

We urge States to support Russian civil society, including independent media and human rights defenders, in their continued fight against this digital repression.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Warning: The Russian authorities designated ARTICLE 19 as an 'undesirable organisation' on 8 February 2024. While the 'undesirable' designation can be seen as a marker of recognition of ARTICLE 19's work to promote freedom of expression, we understand that it also carries significant risks for those who engage with our work. Under Russian legislation, an ill-defined and overbroad notion of 'participation in the activities of an undesirable organisation' incurs the risk of administrative and criminal prosecution. We also understand that sharing and storing this statement in Russia can be considered a prosecutable offence and may lead to the imposition of fines and other sanctions.