Russia sentences Meta spokesman Andy Stone in absentia to six years in prison for 'promoting terrorism'

A Russian military court has sentenced Meta spokesperson Andy Stone in absentia to six years in prison for "promoting terrorism," as the company is considered "extremist" in Russia.

He had been charged with the "promotion of terrorist activities, public calls for terrorist activities, public justification of terrorism or propaganda of terrorism, and public calls for extremist activities".

Judge Roman Kiforenko stated that Stone would be sentenced to six years in a penal colony, according to the Russian news agency Interfax.

Defense lawyer Valentia Filippenkova said that she would appeal the decision, as Stone does not reside in Russia.

Russian authorities accuse him of posting a message on his X account, formerly Twitter, in March 2022 justifying hostile and violent actions against Russian military personnel, shortly after the start of the offensive in Ukraine.

The specific publication, dated March 11, 2022, explained that Meta had temporarily decided not to consider messages calling for the "death of Russian invaders" as a violation of its rules.

Stone was added to Russia's wanted list back in November 2023.

In October 2022, Russia officially designated the US company, the parent company of Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, as a "terrorist and extremist organization," opening the way for severe legal action against its users in the country.

Since the beginning of the offensive in Ukraine, Facebook and Instagram have also been blocked in Russia and can only be accessed through a virtual private network (VPN), along with X and many media sites critical of the government.

Before the ban, millions of Russians used Meta applications, including Instagram, which remains highly popular among the country's youth despite the blockage.

In April 2022, Russia placed Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on its blacklist of persons prohibited from entering its territory.