Russia arrests Meta's press secretary in absentia for "promoting terrorism"
At the beginning of the Russian invasion, Stone said that Ukrainians' posts such as "death to the invaders" are not unacceptable
The Basmanny Court of Moscow has arrested Meta Corporation spokesman Andy Stone in absentia in the case of "promoting terrorism," Interfax reports.
The court hearing was held on November 24.
"The court granted the investigator's motion, choosing a preventive measure against Andy Mark Stone in the form of detention," said court spokeswoman Olga Nazarova.
The court clarified to the agency that Stone was charged in absentia with facilitating terrorist activities using his official position. He faces up to 20 years in prison.
The Russian Investigative Committee previously reported that the charges were "calls for extremism" and "assistance to terrorist activities." After that, the Investigative Committee reported that a criminal case had been initiated due to "calls for murder and violence against Russian citizens" by Meta employees.
Last March, the Investigative Committee of Russia opened a criminal case against Meta employees, including Stone.
According to the investigation, Stone violated Russian laws by reporting on the company's temporary lifting of the ban on calls for violence against the Russian military.
The Kremlin media presented Meta's decision as a campaign of open calls for violence and murder of Russians.
Stone himself explained that such comments would normally violate the company's rules and that the company would not allow calls for violence "against Russian civilians." It was only about the phrase "death to the invaders," which cannot be considered unacceptable in the context of the war launched by Russia.
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