Putin's administration is of the view that massive Internet and Messenger closures may cause public discontent on the eve of the parliamentary elections, while Putin himself has never explained why large-scale blackouts are needed.
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FSB, Russia's main secret service, has taken effective control over Russia's Internet. Millions of people in Moscow and Russia's main cities have been affected for several months since Internet access was blocked.
Putin's administration is of the view that massive Internet and Messenger closures may cause public discontent on the eve of the parliamentary elections, while Putin himself has never explained why large-scale blackouts are needed.