US Urges All Nations to Protect Free Speech Amid Sputnik Ban in Turkey

The United States urges all governments to protect freedom of expression amid reports that the Sputnik website is blocked in Turkey, US Department of State spokesperson John Kirby said in press briefing on Friday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The Sputnik website was blocked in Turkey on Thursday evening, with the Turkish Telecommunications Department citing "administrative measures."

"We are aware of reports there is no access to the Sputnik website from Turkey," Kirby stated. "[B]roadly speaking, and not specifically on this, we encourage all governments to take every precaution to protect freedom of expression."

Asked if the State Department disapproves Ankara’s blocking of the Sputnik website, Kirby referred to Turkish authorities for looking into the justification of such actions.

Russia’s foreign ministry has called the ban a flagrant violation of fundamental human rights and freedoms.

Human rights and media watchdogs have also expressed concerns about the ban. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s (OSCE) said the ban is only the latest in a series of issues Ankara has with freedom of expression on the Internet.

Amnesty International’s Turkey Researcher, Andrew Garner, told Sputnik on Friday that Turkish authorities often target websites that cover the ongoing clashes between the Kurdistan Workers’ Party and the Turkish military.