Russia convicts the spokesperson for Facebook owner Meta in a swift trial in absentia
A court in Russia on Monday convicted the spokesperson of U.S. technology company Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, of justifying terrorism and sentenced him to six years in prison in a swift trial in absentia, Russia’s independent news site Mediazona reported.
According to the outlet, the charges against Meta communications director Andy Stone stem from his remarks in 2022 following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24 that year. Stone, who is based in the United States, announced temporary changes to Meta’s hate speech policy to allow for “forms of political expression that would normally violate (its) rules, like violent speech such as ‘death to the Russian invaders.’”
In the same statement, Stone added that “credible calls for violence against Russian civilians” would remain banned. The Russian authorities opened a criminal case implicating Stone and other unidentified Meta employees nonetheless, describing the statement as “illegal calls to violence and killings of Russian citizens.”
Related articles
Shooting injures 2 at Missouri high school graduation ceremony
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (AP) — Two people were injured when gunfire broke out during a high school gradu2024-05-21US student protests continue, with over 270 arrests on weekend
Public safety aides are seen on campus at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), in Calif2024-05-21Rwanda marks Int'l Labor Day with emphasis on youth digital skills promotion
Rwanda marked International Labor Day on Wednesday with an emphasis on promoting digital skills amon2024-05-21The Kentucky Derby in the words of the winners, from Smith to Espinoza
The Kentucky Derby is celebrating its 150th running this Saturday. Some of racing’s greatest horses,2024-05-21Travis Kelce downs whiskey shot on slice of bread at Kelce Jam without Taylor Swift
Travis Kelce was spotted taking a whiskey shot from a slice of bread in true southern fashion as he2024-05-21SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft returns to Earth with scientific experiments
SpaceX Dragon cargo resupply spacecraft returned to Earth earlier Tuesday with scientific experiment2024-05-21
atest comment