Russia: Announced Roskomnadzor access restriction on Ficbook for publishing prohibited content

On 9 July 2024, the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media (Roskomnadzor) imposed restrictions on the Latvian Russian-language platform Ficbook, a website hosting fan fiction and original stories based on books, movies, and TV series, including content with LGBT themes. The restriction was based on Article 15.1 of Federal Law No. 149-FZ on the Unified Register of Prohibited Information, which regulates access to illegal content published online. Roskomnadzor stated that Ficbook contained numerous sections promoting LGBT themes, which are considered extremist and prohibited under Russian law.