Evgeny Prigozhin, the owner of Wagner PMC, called for YouTube to be blocked on the territory of the aggressor country. This is not the first time such statements have been heard in Russia.
Thus, in Russia they have long wanted to close the American video hosting About thisRussian human rights activist Mark Feigin told Channel 24.
Why the Kremlin wants to block YouTube
Feigin noted that the Kremlin has supporters and opponents of blocking the YouTube platform.
The struggle continues in the Kremlin (regarding the blocking of YouTube – Channel 24), the Russian human rights activist noted.
According to him, the opponent of this idea is Sergei Kiriyenko, who is in charge of all networks as the first deputy head of Vladimir Putin's administration. His position is quite simple – inside YouTube, no matter how much we want the opposite, there is still Russian propaganda that the Kremlin uses to loosen certain topics.
The other “side of the coin” is that with the blocking of the platform access to the population of the aggressor country to Russian opposition YouTube channels will be closed. So, the Kremlin understands that people continue to use VPNs in order to continue watching them.
Feigin explained why the Kremlin wants to close YouTube: watch the video how Prigozhin does not like that Russians can watch both on Russian opposition YouTube channels, and in general, discuss his conflicts. For example, with the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff of the aggressor country.
It is very painful and scary for someone like Prigozhin,” said the Russian human rights activist.
According to him , the owner of the Wagner PMC has nowhere to run, so there is nothing left but to stand his ground. In addition, Prigozhin is convinced that he is a very powerful person in Russia and can easily control processes such as blocking YouTube.
Feygin concluded that the American video hosting will be closed in Russia, it is only a matter of time. In his opinion, this can happen in 2023 – early 2024. Moreover, it will definitely not be up to Prigogine to decide.
