It is better penalize VPNs than block them believes Roskomnadzor

According to current Russian law if the VPN provides any internet user in Russia with access to any web-resource blocked in Russia such VPN is to be blocked. How Russian internet watchdog – The Roskomnadzor (RKN) – aims to implement such task is not clear, perhaps to block entire internet. Anyway, it considers another idea: to penalize them – imposing fines on VPN failing to block access to forbidden web-resource in Russia.

Such measure is more effective believes RKN. The RKN’s chief Zharov stated that his “office has the right to block VPN services which failed to comply with current Russian law, but it does not have obligation to do it within certain and defined term”. The RKN has identified nine VPN services who don’t comply with Russian rules and currently the office anticipates adoption of new law providing fines for VPNs if they fail execute request made by RKN or any other relevant governmental body to restrict access to certain web-resource.

VPN’s service make RKN’s blockings and most RKN’s work senseless. RKN targets certain web-site, sends notification to block access thereto, ISP execute RKN’s requirement and VPN provide access. It seems in the context of VPN services the Russia is a market with strong potential unless the Russian state cut itself off global internet. RKN has sent served 10 VPN providers with requirement to connect to federal registry of blocked web-sites in order to implement blockings and only one Russian VPN service has agreed to do it – Kaspersky.

But even if the new law would provide fines for VPN services there remain another question – how RKN would implement and execute the decision of Russian court overseas? Even if Russia has reciprocal agreements on legal help with other countries, most VPN services can change the country of their residence and chose such country where the Russia would not get the violator. Such issue could be another argument for Russian internet autonomy what, in its turn, can make internet connection in Russia much worse.