MOSCOW, September 21 – RAPSI. More than ten Russian regional prosecutor's offices and Russia's federal media watchdog issued warnings to local Internet providers recommending them to stop distributing the scandalous film, Innocence of Muslims.
Warnings were submitted to a total of 100 local providers and branches of the federal telecommunication enterprises, which have greeted these warnings with different reactions.
The prosecutors of Khabarovsk Territory, Kamchatka Territory, Chukotka, Altai Republic, Khakassia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Omsk Region and Ingushetia have already submitted similar requests to Internet providers in their regions.
Providers in Ingushetia have said that without the court's permission they will not be able to limit access to websites where Innocence of Muslims has been posted, otherwise they run the risk of being sued.
Previously, access to YouTube was suspended for several hours by Rostelecom, Russia's one of the largest telecoms operator, in the Russia's Omsk Region in response to a letter sent by the regional prosecutor's office urging the company to stop distributing "Innocence of Muslims" for fear that the film would disseminate extremist ideas. Access resumed several hours later.
Mass demonstrations have broken out in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, and Sudan, as well as in other predominantly Muslim countries. US Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens was killed along with three colleagues when rioters attacked the U.S. consulate in Benghazi on September 11.
A 14-minute US-made film trailer released last week on YouTube portrays Islam and the Prophet Muhammad in a negative light.
The United States is strengthening the security of its diplomatic staff in countries where they may be subject to attack, while a number of Eastern countries have blocked the access to the film. At the same time, Google has rejected requests that it completely remove clips of the film from its video-hosting sections.