The project was forced to close on August 5, 2021.

Roskomnadzor blocked the website of the project on August 4 citing “connection with undesirable organisation”. Under the recently changed law the connection with undesirable organisation charge means journalists working with the project would risk up to 6 years in jail. While there is no substance whatsoever to those allegations, without the independent judiciary and rule of law it’s impossible to defend oneself against them in Russia as demonstrated by several recent cases.

In order not to put journalists under personal risk, the project team and MBK decided to close the project.

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