Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs
The acting governor of Russia’s partially occupied Kursk region has prohibited local officials from deleting online comments critical of their performance, state media reported Monday.
“You can’t delete comments except those containing profanity and insults. If the comment is proper but unpleasant, you must respond to it,” Alexander Khinshtein was quoted as saying by the state broadcaster Vesti Kursk.
Khinshtein, appointed by President Vladimir Putin last month, acknowledged that he was too busy to respond to messages personally and would only intervene if local officials failed to resolve issues.
He announced that officials’ performance would be evaluated monthly using metrics that include their social media activity, according to Vesti Kursk.
news
Saratov Oil Depot Fire Contained 5 Days After Ukrainian Drone Strike
Read more
The directive came after displaced residents in the Kursk region criticized a list of 517 missing persons published Thursday by Russia’s federal human rights commissioner.
The independent regional news outlet 7×7 reported that many individuals were unable to find their missing loved ones on the list, despite having reported them to authorities. Russia’s Human Rights Commissioner, Tatiana Moskalkova, admitted that the list contained the errors on Friday.
Ukrainian forces launched a surprise attack on the Kursk region in August 2024, capturing swathes of Russian territory. Russia has since pushed back some of Kyiv’s troops, but it has not yet regained full control over the region.
Last week, Ukraine announced a precision strike on a Russian command post in the region, while Russia claimed that Ukrainian forces had launched a “counterattack.”
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office has designated The Moscow Times as an “undesirable” organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a “foreign agent.”
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work “discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership.” We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It’s quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you’re defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Continue
Not ready to support today? Remind me later.
×
Remind me next month
Thank you! Your reminder is set.
We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy.
