Kazakhstan blocks Latvian-based Russian news site

    An online Russian news portal based in Latvia has been blocked in Kazakhstan over an article described by Astana as "inflicting ethnic discord."
    Kazakhstan's Ministry of Investments and Development said on October 30 that the Meduza.io website published an article "propagating ethnic discord and threatening the territorial integrity" of Kazakhstan.
    The article about ethnic Russians living in Kazakhstan's eastern city of Ust-Kamenogorsk (aka Oskemen) is titled as "Ust-Kamenogorsk People's Republic. Are Locals Ready For Polite Green Men?"
    The ministry also has filed a lawsuit against Meduza.io in connection with the article.
    It says the website will remain blocked in Kazakhstan until a local court rules in the case, according to RFE/RL.