Here is a summary and breakdown of the key points from the article:
Overview Seventeen Russian cryptocurrency exchange websites are facing potential blocking by Russia’s telecom regulator, Roskomnadzor, after a regional court ruled that the information disseminated on their platforms is illegal.
Key Details of the Ruling
- The Court Decision: In early September, the Kushnarenkovsky District Court in Bashkortostan deemed the content on 17 crypto exchange sites as prohibited under current Russian law.
- The Court’s Reasoning: The court emphasized that the platforms allow free access to their content without requiring user registration, meaning there are no restrictions on the copying, transfer, and distribution of the materials.
- The Threat: Roskomnadzor has the authority to block access to these platforms if the operators do not delete the web pages deemed illegal by the court.
Legal and Procedural Issues
- Lack of Due Process: According to the Digital Rights Center (a law firm representing six of the affected exchanges), the website owners were never summoned to court.
- Targeting Method: The targeted sites were reportedly identified via the popular crypto exchange aggregator, Bestchange.ru.
- The Legal Defense: Lawyers are preparing official complaints to overturn the decision. Sarkis Darbinyan, managing partner at Digital Rights Center, argues that prosecutors are ignoring the reality of Russia’s recently adopted “law on digital assets.” This law does not completely ban cryptocurrency, but rather limits its use and civil law turnover.
Broader Context in Russia
- History of Blocking: Russia has a track record of targeting crypto-related websites. Roskomnadzor has previously blocked the aggregator Bestchange.ru (though access was eventually restored), added six crypto sites to its banned registry in March 2020, and blocked several crypto trading sites via a Perm region court in June.
- Regulatory Climate: The ongoing blocks highlight the friction between Russian prosecutors and the crypto industry, as regulators struggle to enforce restrictions in the wake of the new, more nuanced digital assets legislation.
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