Russia steps up VPN blocking after parliamentary elections. Ten services report tighter restrictions in a single week.
After the State Duma elections, Russian authorities launched a new round of blocking VPN services. Ten services said they faced tighter restrictions over the past week, Verstka reported. The outlet did not name them, citing “security reasons.”
Russian authorities have intensified restrictions on VPN services following parliamentary elections, impacting ten services over a single week, according to Verstka. The outlet did not disclose the names of these services, citing security concerns. One prominent VPN provider reported intensified blocking starting September 25, which disrupted access for many users.
Another service stated that restrictions began on September 21 and required replacing eight servers in just five days. Two other services reported that Roskomnadzor had blocked all their international server locations and IP addresses. Alexey Kozlyuk, chairman of the VPN Guild, acknowledged the increased blocking as a predictable outcome of the elections.
He noted that pressure on services had been mounting since early August, viewing the current situation as a continuation and intensification of that campaign. The demand for VPNs in Russia has surged due to the blocking of popular social media platforms, services, and messaging apps. Russian authorities have responded by strengthening efforts to prevent people from circumventing these blocks.
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