Sites of Russian propaganda media Sputnik blocked in Moldova

Five new propaganda websites have been discovered in the country’s information space after last year’s blocking.

Image: @Sputnik / Alexsei Filippov

Moldova has blocked five websites of the Russian propaganda media outlet Sputnik, the Moldovan media outlet Newsmaker reports.

The blocked websites are: sputniknews.com, md.sputniknews.com, ro.sputniknews.com, sputniknews.ru and md.sputniknews.ru.

The decision to block the websites was made on March 22 by the country’s Information and Security Service. The reason for this decision was the publication of false information on these websites that threatens national security in a state of emergency.

The service reported that it had already contacted the network and electronic communication service providers. They should immediately block access to these sites for Moldovan users.

According to the order of the Emergency Situations Commission of March 23, Internet providers and mobile operators are obliged to immediately block online resources that spread fake information.

Last year in Moldova, the special service already issued an order to block the portal sputnik.md, along with gagauznews.md, ehomd.info, rta.md, moldnod.ru, and some others. However, after the blocking, Sputnik launched new sites.

As a reminder, on March 2, 2022, the EU announced that it would block the broadcasting of Russian state media outlets Sputnik and RT/Russia Today in the European Union in response to “Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine.”

In a recent interview with AFP, Moldovan Defense Minister Anatolie Nosatîi said that Russia is waging a hybrid war against the country to overthrow the government, but that Moldova is not in “imminent military danger.”