Dec 22, 2023 15:44:00

Wikimedia will be shut down for the purpose of protecting members as Wikimedia Russian branch manager was recognized as a 'foreign agent'

The Russian branch of Wikimedia, a non-profit organization that supports the online encyclopedia ``Wikipedia,'' has been forced to close. According to information, the Russian branch was closed to protect its members after the head of its Russian branch was designated as a '

foreign agent ,' which targets media and political activists who receive benefits from foreign countries.

Википедия:Форум/Новости — Википедия
https://ru.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=%D0%92%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%BF%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%B8 %D1%8F:%D0%A4%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%83%D0%BC/%D0%9D%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82 %D0%B8&oldid=134968726#%D0%92%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%B8%D0%B0_%D0%A0%D0% A3_%D0%B7%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%80%D1%8B%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%B5%D1%82%D1%81%D1%8F

Jens Ohlig: 'Wikimedia Russia has been diss…' - Mastodon
https://mastodon.xyz/@johl/111618899554454932

В России закроют сообщество поддержки русскоязычной 'Википедии'
https://tass.ru/ekonomika/19577435

Wikimedia Russia Shuts Down Amid 'Foreign Agent' Threats - The Moscow Times
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/12/19/wikimedia-russia-shuts-down-amid-foreign-agent-threats-a83487

'Foreign agents' is a system found in the United States and Russia, and in the case of Russia, media that receives foreign aid and individuals who receive foreign aid and engage in information gathering in the field of political activities and military technology.・Organizations will be recognized as foreign agents. Those certified as foreign agents are subject to restrictions such as being required to have their accounts audited by institutions and being prohibited from engaging in educational activities for minors or serving as members of election management committees.

Stanislav Kozlovsky, the representative of Wikimedia Russia (Wikimedia RU), has been recognized as a foreign agent, and Wikimedia RU has been shut down to protect its members. .

Mr. Kozlovsky is a person who worked as an assistant professor at Moscow State University. According to Mr. Kozlovsky, he was suddenly summoned by the vice president one day and was told, ``We have received reliable information that the Ministry of Justice has identified you as a foreign agent.'' He was told that he was either fired for absenteeism or for personal reasons. He was asked to choose between resigning and resigning.

Mr. Kozlovsky chose the latter and apparently spoke about this at the Wikimedia general meeting held on December 18, 2023. After discussions, it was decided that Wikimedia RU, which had been in operation for 15 years, would be shut down and liquidation procedures would begin.

Since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, Russia's communications regulator

Roskomnadzor has accused Wikimedia of spreading unreliable war-related information and asked Wikimedia RU to delete the information. I did. Wikimedia RU, on the other hand, continued to refuse this for five months, and Roskomnadzor finally decided to apply ``enforcement measures to notify users that a foreign corporation (Wikimedia) is violating Russian law.'' doing.

It seems that the closure of Wikimedia RU will not directly lead to the closure of the Russian version of Wikipedia, but there are growing concerns that the Russian government may block Wikipedia against the backdrop of such thorough suppression of war opponents. I am.