Russian Media Watchdog Blacklists Outlets Linked to Wagner Mercenary Chief

Russian Media Watchdog Blacklists Outlets Linked to Wagner Mercenary Chief
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner Group military company, records his video addresses in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, on June 24, 2023. Prigozhin Press Service via AP
The Associated Press
Updated:

Russia’s media watchdog blacklisted at least five media outlets affiliated with Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and blocked their websites in Russia. The move came after Wagner fighters took control of a Russian military headquarters and advanced on Moscow in what appears to have been an attempted insurrection.

As of Saturday, websites of the RIA FAN news agency and four online news portals controlled by Prigozhin’s Patriot media holding company “People’s News”, “Neva News”, “Politics Today,” and “Economy Today”—were listed on a register of blacklisted sites maintained by the communications watchdog, Roskomnadzor.