Russia Intensifies VPN Blockades Post-Elections
Russian authorities intensified VPN blocking after the State Duma elections, with at least 10 services reporting disruptions, including server replacements and IP blockages, amid ongoing pressure that began in August.
Consensus
- At least 10 VPN services reported new restrictions after the State Duma elections.
- Blockades intensified starting in early September, peaking on September 25.
- Users experienced connection instability or complete failure of VPN services.
- One or more major VPN providers reported replacing servers due to blockages.
- Roskomnadzor blocked entire foreign locations and all server IP addresses for some services.
- The pressure on VPN services began in early August and is seen as a continuation of an ongoing campaign.
- The situation is described as making VPN use more difficult and costly, requiring frequent server and protocol switching.
- The sources cite the same media outlet, 'Vérstka', as the origin of the reporting.
- The names of the affected VPN services are withheld for security reasons.
Points of divergence
- The head of the VPN Guild, Alexey Kozlyuk, stated that the current wave is considered 'a fundamentally new wave' by the organization. — tg_tvrain
- The head of the VPN Guild, Alexey Kозlyuk, stated that the organization does not consider this a 'principally new wave'. — tg_svobodnieslova
- Kozlyuk suggested that blockage data may be collected through scanning of VPN infrastructure and Russian apps capable of detecting active VPNs. — novaya_eu
- Kozlyuk mentioned the possibility of renewed discussion about a fee for foreign traffic, which could act as a de facto tax on VPN use. — meduza
Coverage (7 sources)
- Russian authorities began a wave of VPN blocks after Duma elections — DW Главное
- After Duma elections in Russia, a wave of VPN blocks began — The Moscow Times
- Authorities began a new wave of VPN service blocks after Duma elections — Новая газета Европа
- In Russia after elections strengthened VPN-service blocks — Meduza
- New wave of VPN blocks began after Duma elections — «Vorstka» — ЭХО / Новости
- After elections authorities began a new wave of VPN-service blocks — «Typesetting» — Дождь (Telegram)
- Authorities began a new wave of VPN blocks in Russia after Duma elections — Вёрстка