Support The Moscow Times!

Russia Says Trump Ban a 'Nuclear Blast in Cyber Space'

Trump's Facebook and Instagram accounts were suspended last week following the violent invasion of the U.S. Capitol by a mob of his supporters, with his Twitter account later permanently deleted. CNP Pool / TASS

Russia on Thursday compared the decision of social media giants to suspend U.S. President Donald Trump's accounts to a "nuclear blast in cyber space" with the consequences hard to predict.

"The decision of U.S. internet platforms to block the head of state can be compared to a nuclear blast in cyber space," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Facebook.

"It's not the destruction that's scary but the consequences," she added.

"A blow has been dealt against democratic values proclaimed by the West."

Trump's Facebook and Instagram accounts were suspended last week following the violent invasion of the U.S. Capitol by a mob of his supporters, which disrupted the certification of President-elect Joe Biden's election victory.

Twitter went a step further by deleting Trump's account, depriving him of his favorite megaphone.

Zakharova pointed to a chorus of critics in the West including German Chancellor Angela Merkel calling the Twitter ban "problematic."

The social media ban, said Zakharova, was one more reason for U.S. authorities to "take care" of their own country instead of criticizing Moscow.

She made the statement after Washington expressed concern over a crackdown on independent media in Russia, among other issues.

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