Internet safety official: Every other child wants to leave Russia

The head of Russia’s Safe Internet League, Ekaterina Mizulina, has raised concerns about a growing number of Russian children expressing a desire to leave the country following the state communications regulator’s (Roskomnadzor) recent blocking of several popular online platforms.

“Of course, I can't just ignore it when kids are crying, and every other kid is saying they want to leave Russia after the decision to block these platforms,” Mizulina wrote on her Telegram channel, Caliber.Az reports. 

She said the sentiment is coming from children aged 8 to 16, many of whom, according to her, “carry Russian flags everywhere they go.” Mizulina stressed that the young people do so “sincerely and wholeheartedly.”

The Safe Internet League chief questioned what long-term impact the situation might have on the next generation, noting that she is concerned about the thoughts and attitudes these children will carry into adulthood.

“And I'm not afraid to talk about it openly,” she added.

Roskomnadzor has recently introduced restrictive measures against FaceTime, Apple’s online calling service.

Prior to that, on November 28, the agency warned that WhatsApp could be blocked nationwide due to “violating Russian legislation” and allegedly being used to coordinate “terrorist activities.”

Russian authorities are pushing a state-backed rival app called MAX, which critics claim could be used to track users. State media have dismissed those accusations as false.

By Sabina Mammadli