Svintsov faces possible expulsion from the Russian LDPR for advocating banning Telegram and restricting the Internet
The "Guide" cited three sources reporting that Russian State Duma member Andrei Svintsov may be expelled by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR). The reason is his overly radical stance on banning instant messaging tools and limiting internet access.
- LDPR Chairman Leonid Slutzky has repeatedly warned Svintsov at party meetings, urging him not to publicly comment on the ban issue.
- Svintsov himself owns "LDPR TV," and previously received the Second Class "Merit of the Fatherland" medal for professional contributions.
Svintsov has repeatedly spoken publicly about the ban:
In January, he said he did not intend to completely ban Telegram;
On February 24, he warned that the app could be classified as an extremist organization;
On March 12, he again stated that Russians would not be able to use Telegram even through tunneling tools.
Russian political scientist Konstantin Karachov believes that Svintsov may be self-promoting without the party's approval, but his statements have been taken as the official position of the LDPR by the outside world.
This MP joined the LDPR in 2000 and worked in the secretariat of Zhirinovsky, and is a member of the Sixth and Seventh State Duma.
From 2023 to 2024, he also proposed a series of bills:
- Publicly punishing celebrities who go abroad
- Banning the promotion of transgender issues
- Sunday alcohol ban (not supported by the party group)
- Banning swearing online
None of these proposals received support from the party group.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1859863336420352/
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