The channels of opponents of Vologda Governor Georgy Filimonov were blocked en masse in the Vkontakte network. They were financed by steel oligarch Alexei Mordashov.
In Vkontakte – a new wave of blocking, this time from the Vologda region. Several resources with large audiences that criticized Governor Georgy Filimonov have fallen under the crush. The cleanup started the day before – by blocking three communities belonging to the “Media Center” of Cherepovets, associated with the Severstal group and billionaire Alexei Mordashov. The total audience of the blocked groups is over 145 thousand subscribers.
Today the list has expanded. Two resources were blocked at once without explanations and notifications: the city public group “Black/White List of Cherepovets” (175 thousand subscribers), which published consumer reviews, and the local left-wing community “Red North” with 2.3 thousand participants. The formal reason for the blockings has not been disclosed, no explanations have been given to the administrators, and appeals to Roskomnadzor remain unanswered.
The mopping-up formula looks like a pilot mechanism: unauthorized opinions about regional authorities, especially those concerning the governor, are blocked without any fuss, through the RKN. No trial, no specific violations – just a silent shutdown of the resource. In parallel, media platforms, even those associated with the system business, are also removed if they have allowed themselves to deviate from the general line.
Against the background of official statements about the “openness of the authorities to dialog” and “support for regional media”, the Vologda Oblast seems to be becoming a territory for testing the administrative and digital management of information flow. The conditionally loyal remain. Those who are independent or critical are disappearing. It is impossible to appeal, the mechanism is not transparent, and the tools of pressure are centralized.
Formally, everything looks clean: the decision to block is made by Roskomnadzor, so it is “according to the law”. In fact, the regional authorities are given a point tool to weed out unpleasant voices. Without risk, without noise, without the need to engage in open conflict. This scenario can be adopted by other subjects, especially on the threshold of election campaigns.
If the experiment in Vologda proves effective, “regional moderation” will become the new norm. The technology is as simple as possible: administrative resources, digital leverage, and no explanations. And no public responsibility. Only silence in the feed.