Russian state agency Tass and independent news outlet
Mediazona first reported on Andy Stone’s inclusion on the list on Sunday, weeks
after Russian authorities in October classified Meta as a “terrorist and
extremist” organization, opening the way for possible criminal proceedings
against Russian residents using its platforms.
The interior ministry’s database does not give details of
the case against Stone, stating only that he is wanted on criminal charges.
According to Mediazona, an independent news website that
covers Russia’s opposition and prison system, Stone was put on the wanted list
in February 2022, but authorities made no related statements at the time and no
news media reported on the matter until this week.
In March this year, Russia’s federal Investigative Committee
opened a criminal probe of Meta. It alleged that the company’s actions
following Moscow’s all-out invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 amounted to
inciting violence against Russians.
After Russian troops moved into Ukraine, Stone announced
temporary changes to Meta’s hate speech policy to allow for “forms of political
expression that would normally violate (its) rules, like violent speech such as
‘death to the Russian invaders.’ ”
In the same statement, Stone added that “credible calls for
violence against Russian civilians” will remain banned.
Mediazona on Sunday claimed that an unspecified Russian
court earlier this month issued an arrest warrant for Stone, on charges of
“facilitating terrorism.” The report did not specify the source of this
information, which could not be independently verified.
Western social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram
and X (formerly known as Twitter) were popular with young Russians before
Moscow launched its full-scale war on Ukraine, but have since been blocked in
the country as part of a broad crackdown on independent media and other forms
of critical speech. They are now only accessible via VPN.
In April 2022, Russia also formally barred Meta CEO Mark
Zuckerberg from entering the country. -AP