I'm bumping this because of a recent report on Durov. He's in 'exile' now. Russia is a great place for having similar rights to the West!

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/03/te...ses-exile.html

I also had a good chuckle reading the previous posts. Of course, the West has problems with democracy - they are hypocritical but at least, many people note this and criticize it. But, with regards to Russia, both those who live there and even Westerners who are Kremlin/Putin apologists make excuses or defend Russia's actions. Which is in complete contradiction when they single out America for the same faults/flaws. HENCE, the example of the attitude and mentality of illogical and unrational thinking. Спасибо.

Without further adieu, let's look at these findings:
VK (social networking website) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


In January 2014, VK's founder Pavel Durov sold his 12% stake in the company to the CEO of Megafon, which is controlled by Alisher Usmanov. Following the deal, Usmanov and his allies control around 52% of the company.[12] Shortly thereafter, the CEO of Megafon, sold his 12% stake to Mail.ru, thus allowing mail.ru to consolidate their controlling stake of 52% in VK.[13]

On September 16, 2014, the Mail.ru group bought the remaining 48% stake of VK from Blesmir Development and Palagon, thus becoming the sole proprietor of the social network.


“Russian Facebook” founder flees country after being forced out as CEO | Ars Technica


https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20...ing-them.shtml


https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20...kontakte.shtml

https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20...andidate.shtml

Bottom line: Durov refused to censor content or provide private details so he was forced out of controlling interest. The Kremlin is acting more like the West everyone hates here – controlling social networks and internet – but many people who excuse Russia's actions are ignorant or indifferent to these facts. No surprise, though.

Russian Email Giant Takes Over VKontakte, 'Russia's Facebook'

How Putin's cronies seized control of Russia's Facebook | The Verge

Mail.Ru - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Putin Goes After Bloggers, Not Profits | Opinion | The Moscow Times

In Front of Putin, Internet Titans Lose Their Nerve | Opinion | The Moscow Times

Russians could assert having freedoms once upon a time, regarding the internet, but the Kremlin clamps down nowadays and if they really want to, they pursue censorship and removing freedoms. So, concentrated media, propaganda, spying on internet users and controlling their expression (mostly, those who have different or contrary/opposing ideas - they don't care about zombies who parrot the same or significantly similar rhetoric).

For all the Kremlin's anti-West talk, they are taking the same playbook and moving it up a notch!