Watchdog

Russia's media regulator Roskomnadzor has blocked the Russian-language website of RFE/RL's Armenian Service, known locally as Radio Azatutyun.

A group that promotes uncensored online media in Russia, Roskomsvoboda, said on June 2 that the move to block the site was initiated by the Prosecutor-General's Office.

Roskomsvoboda said that it obtained access to the registry of "banned information" in Russia which listed 12 websites and links, including Azatutyun and the sites of the multilingual Finnish state radio and television company, Yle, which has been blocked in Russia since late May.

“The Kremlin’s blockage of yet another RFE/RL website is just the latest reminder of the extreme lengths those in power in Russia are willing to go to deprive the Russian people of the truth. RFE/RL will not be deterred from sharing the facts about this devastating war with our audiences, who continue to reach us on all available platforms,” RFE/RL President Jamie Fly said in a June 3 statement.

After Russia launched its ongoing unprovoked invasion of Ukraine on February 24, Roskomnadzor blocked the websites of dozens of media outlets, including RFE/RL, as well as social network platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Roskomnadzor has warned media outlets across the country that Russia's attack on Ukraine cannot be called a war or an invasion, and should only be referred to as a "special military operation."

In the first few weeks of the war, several major international broadcasters suspended their operations inside Russia, including the BBC, CNN, Bloomberg, CBS, and the German ARD and ZDF outlets.

The BBC and ARD have since reopened.

Scores of Iranian filmmakers and artists who penned an open letter in support of anti-government protesters have been threatened by authorities, with some rescinding their signatures.

The May 29 open letter came as residents of Iran’s southwestern city of Abadan staged rallies over the collapse of a 10-story building that killed at least 39 people.

Authorities blamed the May 23 collapse on poor safety and local corruption. But protesters in Abadan and other Iranian cities have put the blame on government negligence and endemic corruption. Many demonstrators have directed their anger at Iran’s clerical regime.

The government has launched a crackdown to quell the demonstrations. Authorities have disrupted the Internet and riot police have used tear gas and fired warning shots to disperse protesters on the streets.

The open letter issued by the Iranian filmmakers and artists had called “on all those who have become agents of repression in the military units to lay down their arms and return to the nation’s embrace.” It added that “public outrage over corruption, theft, inefficiency, and repression” had prompted the “wave of popular protests.”

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The statement was signed by prominent figures, including award-winning filmmakers Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasulof as well as acclaimed feminist film director Tahmineh Milani.

Since issuing the letter, the signatories have been publicly threatened by authorities. Some also appear to have been pressured into withdrawing their signatures from the statement.

‘State Of Freedom Of Expression’

Iran’s Culture Minister Mohammad Mehdi Esmaili on May 30 warned that “those who want to stand against the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and the guardians of Iran’s security with worthless statements and delusionary remarks” will face action.

An opinion piece in the state-run Cinema Press warned that the signatories could face six months to three years in jail for signing the “strange and irrational” statement.

“I believe it would be appropriate for those who signed the statement without having read it or those who read it but were not being aware of its anti-security nature to withdraw their signature,” added the piece that was written by an “informed source.”

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In an Instagram post on May 30, Rasulof said authorities had warned the signatories that they could be arrested or banned from working in Iran.

"They have frightened some of the signatories by [threatening] to arrest them and told some that they can no longer work,” he added. “This is the state of freedom of expression in the Islamic Republic. They want to resort to militarism to silence filmmakers who oppose violence.”

A signatory of the letter contacted by RFE/RL refused to comment, citing “intense” state pressure.

The IRGC-affiliated Fars news agency claimed that a significant number of the signatories had not been aware of its content and that nearly half had rescinded their signatures.

Other state-controlled media outlets quoted several of the signatories suggesting that they opposed the contents of the statement.

Pressure, Censorship

Despite attempts by authorities to undermine the open letter, another 70 Iranian filmmakers and artists added their signatures to the statement on June 1. They included the internationally known actress Taraneh Alidoosti and veteran film director Massoud Kimiaei.

The move appeared to be a direct challenge to authorities.

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Last month, the homes of around a dozen filmmakers were raided and two were arrested on unknown charges. The two were later released on bail amid reports that they had been banned from leaving the country.

The reason for the latest crackdown is not clear. But it comes amid rising public anger at Iranian authorities over soaring inflation, high youth unemployment, and rising poverty.

Filmmakers working in Iran are often subjected to state pressure and strict censorship rules. Yet, they still manage to produce films that are often awarded at international film festivals while being banned inside the country.

Authorities have in the past sentenced Panahi and Rasulof to prison while also banning them from leaving the country.

In a 2019 interview with RFE/RL, Rasulof said Iranian authorities want filmmakers to act as propaganda agents for the clerical establishment and echo state-sanctioned narratives.