Vitalii Shishkin, an activist of the Party “The Right are for European Development” of Russia, has characterized the current situation in Russia in the sphere of citizens’ right to expression as “the Putin regime’s war against the mass media”.   

Shishkin said at a news conference at Infotag today that he is the founder of more than a dozen websites and portals, which publish information about actions of protest against the authorities.     

“For example, we are organizing a rally against corruption, and announce about it in the social networks. In an hour is so, our texts are usually blocked, and announcements appear that, e.g. Vitalii Shishkin is a thief and bribe-taker”, said the activist.      

In his words, such activities in the Internet are run by a special service in the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB).   

“It was exactly President Putin, a former security officer, who provoked the adoption by the Russian State Duma [parliament] of a package of laws “On Counteractions to Extremism” that came into force last February 1. So now, if a person has participated 3 times in rallies at which anti-governmental slogans were heard, such person may be sentenced for up to 5 years”, said the Moscow visitor.     

He backed Moldova in its movement towards the European Union as “the only correct movement”.