Russian censorship official is censored by Facebook — reports

Deputy head of Roskomnadzor Maxim Ksenzov has Facebook post removed over use of derogatory term for Ukrainians

Zachary Davies Boren
Friday 03 July 2015 11:58 BST
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A high-ranking officials of the Russian internet regulator has been censored by Facebook (Getty)
A high-ranking officials of the Russian internet regulator has been censored by Facebook (Getty)

Facebook has removed an incendiary status posted by a high-ranking Kremlin official, Russian media has reported.

According to Lenta.ru, deputy head of Roskomnadzor Maxim Ksenzov's social media status was taken down over his use of the word 'crest' — a pejorative term for ethnic Ukrainians.

Ksenzov, whose department is tasked with "supervision of telecom, information technologies and mass communications," complained on his Facebook profile that he had been censored.

"Excellent. Deleted my message. Oh well...," he began.

Then, in a comment likely a little lost in translation, Ksenov wrote: "All other things being equal, and other nuances of the situation, I would not like to unknown citizens known countries prohibit the citizens of my country to speak in their native language."

As he pointed out in a further Facebook post, Ksenov was actually born and raised in Ukraine. "The irony of the paradox," he wrote.

The irony indeed. Internet censorship is essentially Ksenov's — his department was created in the wake of 2012 popular protests and granted extensive powers to take down any online material it doesn't like.

Last year Roskomnadzor required all large western sites - including Facebook - to register in Russia so it could more effectively police what is said in the cybersphere; even popular bloggers must count themselves as mass media outlets.

Just the other day, on July 1, Russian news source 'Izvestia' reported that Facebook temporarily blocked the account of writer Eduard Bagirov over his use the word 'crest'.

Earlier this year, Facebook updated its "Community Rules" — under which these posts are likely considered 'hate speech'.

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