Russian internet regulator Roskomnadzor on Friday ordered the blocking of Facebook in Russia.
He accuses the social network of "discriminating" against Russian media as the war in Ukraine enters its second week.
"The decision was made to block access to Facebook" on Friday, Roskomnadzor announced on Telegram.
The Russian regulator has also "restricted access" to Twitter.
Roskomnadzor justified his decision by accusing Facebook, owned by the American Meta, of "discrimination" against Russian media such as the Ministry of Defense television Zvezda, the news agency Ria Novosti, the international channel RT or the websites Lenta.ru and Gazeta.ru.
Meta regrets this decision
Moscow had already announced a week ago "limiting access" and "slowing down" the operation of Facebook, which had restricted the functionality of the Russian media in question.
According to the Russian regulator, these restrictions "violate the key principles of free dissemination of information and unhindered access of Russian users to Russian media on foreign internet platforms".
Meta, the parent company of the social network, confirmed on Friday the Russian government's decision to block access to Facebook in Russia, and lamented that "millions of ordinary Russians will soon be deprived of reliable information", in the words of Nick Clegg, President of International Affairs of the American group.
Russian pressure on independent media
Since the beginning of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine on February 24, the Russian authorities have stepped up their pressure against the last independent media and on major social networks.
Russian deputies thus introduced a law on Friday punishing heavy penalties for those who disseminate “false information about the army”.
Roskomnadzor also restricted access to the BBC, German international radio and television Deutsche Welle (DW), independent Russian site Meduza (based in Riga), Radio Svoboda, Russian branch of RFE/RL, Voice of America and other unnamed news sites.
