A spokesperson for the country's biggest social network by number of users said there is no directed effort against groups devoted to suicide but that its has closed some of them due to complaints about the groups from users.
Vkontakte competitor Facebook started a suicide prevention program on the American version of its site in December, RIA-Novosti reported.
Russian media outlets have reported a number of youth suicides in cities around the country in recent days after a pair of 8th-graders jumped to their death from the 16th floor of a Moscow region apartment building last week. After the incident, children's rights ombudsman Pavel Astakhov recommended the creation of a federal program to address the problem of teen suicide.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
