Russian internet shutdown that disrupted essential services condemned by rights groups

Digital rights organizations condemned Russia’s decision to implement a sweeping internet shutdown during the 80th anniversary of Victory Day celebrations last week. 

Russian authorities restricted mobile internet access from May 5 to May 9, citing security concerns related to the preparation and celebration of the Victory Day parade in Moscow. During this period, residents across more than 30 regions experienced disrupted or completely absent cellular networks.

Such blackouts, imposed without public oversight or legal justification, violate fundamental human rights, according to a statement this week by digital rights nonprofit Access Now and 29 other organizations.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov acknowledged the shutdown and urged the public to accept it for the sake of security. A deputy in the State Duma also referred to the restrictions as a “preventive defense” against potential drone attacks from Ukraine.

However, the rights groups argue that such measures were disproportionate, as there were no reports of drone-related incidents in the affected areas. The shutdown was also arbitrary and unclear, lacking transparency and legal basis, which goes against international standards, according to Access Now.

A report by Russian digital rights nonprofit Roskomsvoboda said that the latest internet restrictions disrupted essential services in Russia, such as banking, online shopping and government websites. Small businesses that rely on mobile internet for daily operations were hit hardest, while online marketplaces like Wildberries and Yandex Market reported significant drops in mobile app orders. Delivery services were forced to manage operations manually.

A member of the Russian parliament’s committee on information policy, Anton Nemkin, defended the restrictions, describing them as a necessary measure in the context of hybrid warfare. “In these conditions, where communication tools can also be used for control in combat operations, such restrictions are unavoidable,” he said, emphasizing that the safety of people and event participants outweighed the inconvenience caused by the shutdown.

However, digital rights advocates argue that this shutdown made the ongoing issues with Russia's heavy internet censorship even worse. The move, they said, severely limited the public’s ability to access crucial information during a significant national event.

“We urge the Russian authorities to refrain from restricting internet access in the future and ensure the internet and all communication channels remain free, accessible, and secure,” the statement said.