Russia denounces Facebook for blocking security delegation's social media account

Russian government officials denounced Facebook on Sunday, claiming that the American social media giant blocked the account for Moscow's delegation to international security talks in Vienna. 

"We regret to learn that Facebook account of @armscontrol_rus has been banned without explanation," the Russian Arms Control Delegation in Vienna wrote on its Twitter account. "It's another example of illegitimate censorship of information space."

The account was blocked for posting "prohibited content," according to Konstantin Gavrilov, who leads the Russian delegation. Gavrilov made his comments Jan. 16 to Russia's state media outlet, Tass. Gavrilov did not specify what comprised the alleged offense, but told the outlet that the delegation "only reposted statements by the Russian leaders and the Russian foreign ministry."

The Russian government's communications agency, Roskomnadzor, demanded Sunday that Facebook reverse the block.

"On January 16, Roskomnadzor sent a letter to the company @Meta Platforms (owner of the Facebook social network) with a demand to immediately remove all restrictions from the official page of the delegation, as well as to explain the reasons for their introduction," officials tweeted.

Facebook did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Just the News.

The delegation asked officials from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to intervene.

"It’s very dangerous to ignore the politically motivated restrictive activities of IT companies," the delegation wrote, tagging OSCE media freedom representative Teresa Ribeiro.

Facebook has drawn ire within the United States for imposing politically motivated or seemingly arbitrary bans. The organization in June imposed a two-year ban against ​​former U.S. President Donald Trump, prompting Trump to form his own social media outlet.