On 16 May 2024, the office of Russia’s Prosecutor-General designated independent online outlet SOTA as an “undesirable organization”, effectively banning its activities in Russia as well as any viewer interactions with SOTA’s publications.
According to Russian authorities, “materials published by SOTA represent nothing more than frank attempts to destabilize the socio-political situation in Russia”. In a press release, the Prosecutor-General’s office also claimed that SOTA’s activities were encouraged by “so-called Western inspirers” with “the goal of undermining the spiritual- moral foundations of Russian society”. The outlet was also accused of “discrediting the Russian army”.
SOTA is known for its critical reporting on Russian authorities, including through its coverage of anti-war protests on social media. As of June 5, the outlet had over 135 thousand subscribers on Telegram.
UPDATE: On 30 May 2024, SOTA was also designated as a “foreign agent” in Russia.