Russia blocks website of human rights organization for cooperating with Czech NGO

Russia's Roskomnadzor censors have blocked the website of the Komanda-29 human rights association, and raided the home of its head, lawyer Ivan Pavlov, for cooperating with a Czech NGO.

The Prosecutor General's Office said Komanda-29 was cooperating with the Czech NGO Freedom of Information, which was declared an undesirable organization in Russia at the end of June, for allegedly threatening the country's constitutional system and security.

According to the Russian daily Kommersant any cooperation with a banned "undesirable" organization, carries the risk of a hefty fine or a jail sentence of up to six years.