Moscow Calls Turkey's Unlawful Block of Sputnik a Violation of Human Rights

Turkey's decision to ban Sputnik News website is unlawful, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The Russian Foreign Ministry also noted that Turkey's motives to block the website are 'unclear and unconvincing.' 

"We are convinced that the Turkish leadership, influenced by the friendly Turkish people, the international community and simply by pure logic, will sooner or later abandon its dangerous standoff rhetoric and will make the right conclusions in relations with our country," the ministry said in a statement.

Sputnik Editor-in-Chief Margarita Simonyan said that such a decision was a 'sign of censorship' in Turkey.

In January 2015, the Turkish prime minister and other ministers received the right to block any type of resource in the Internet without a court order. The ministers may demand the Turkish Telecommunications Department and providers to block sites or delete content within four hours after receiving a notice of "national security, protection of social order, or for the prevention of crime."

According to the Turkish Telecommunications department, final decision will be made by the Turkish Court.