Support The Moscow Times!

Criminal Case Launched Into Russian Pro-Suicide Social Media Group

A criminal case against the owners of a social media group accused of encouraging teen suicide has been launched in St. Petersburg, a statement published by the Russian Investigative Committee said Friday.

If found guilty of promoting suicide, those involved may face up to five years imprisonment.

The Novaya Gazeta newspaper published an article about private pro-suicide groups on Russian social network VKontakte on Monday. The groups have led to the deaths of 130 minors between November 2015 and April 2016, the report claimed.

The article has drawn widespread public attention, as well as interest from officials.

Russia’s media watchdog Roscomnadzor announced that it was launching checks into Vkontakte groups in order to block pro-suicide material. The Vkontakte network pledged their full cooperation, adding that such groups will be deleted without the possibility of appeal, Novaya Gazeta reported.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysiss and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

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.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more