Censorship and regulation: Publication ban, take-down order or forced deletion, fine, administrative action
On 4 March 2022, Russian independent media outlet The Bell said it was ceasing publications on the war in Ukraine due to new restrictive regulations in Russia. The Bell, which focuses mainly on business and economics-related topics, said that “the personal risks to [its] journalists had reached a new level” due to the laws, which foresee criminal respomsibility for alleged “fake news” on the war and “discrediting” the Russian army. Since 24 February, “fake news” is considered to be any war-related information not communicated by official Russian sources.