Thousands of Russian have protested on the streets of the nation against President Vladimir Putin’s plan to introduce strict restrictions over the internet.
According to BBC news reports, mass protesters have rallied in Moscow and similar demonstrations took place in two other cities after parliament backed the internet bill last month.
The Russian government has said that the bill, which allows isolating internet service of the country from the rest of the globe, will improve the nation’s national cyber-security.
However, the campaigners claimed it was an attempt to hike censorship and stifle dissents. Activists said more than 15,000 people gathered in Russia’s capital Moscow on Sunday.
Protesters chanted slogans like “hands off the internet” and “no to isolation” as well as other gave speeches on the large stage.
One protester told Reuters news agency: “If we do nothing it will get worse,” adding, “The authorities will keep following their own way and the point of no return will be passed.”
Another campaigner named Sergei Boiko told AFP news agency that the Russian government “is battling freedom”. He added, “I can tell you this as somebody who spent a month in jail for a tweet.”
The government says the so-called digital sovereignty bill will reduce Russia’s reliance on internet servers in the United States.
However, a second vote on Internet Bill is expected to take place later this month. If it gets passed it will eventually need to get signed by President Vladimir Putin.