Russia Blocks Websites Calling for Boycott of Duma Elections

Russia’s communications watchdog blocked four websites that urged a boycott of parliamentary elections in September as the government cracks down on protests and boosts control over social media.

The regulator, Roskomnadzor, acted on a request from prosecutors, who said the sites also called for “coordinated actions by the public to organize protests in violation of current rules,” according to a statement posted on its website on Friday. Two of the websites have removed the offending material, it said.