DHAKA: Russia has threatened to block access to the website of the BBC Russian service over an interview with a Siberian activist who called on people to attend an unsanctioned protest.

Izvestia daily reported Tuesday, says The Straits Times.

In the BBC interview with Artem Loskutov last week the activist urged people to attend a demonstration in support of giving the Siberia region more rights within Russia.

Russia’s communication regulator blocked access to the interview and told Izvestia it would be forced to block the entire site if the material which Russian authorities view as extremist is not removed.

‘We can block that item for good instantly and if we go down that road we can block the entire BBC Russian service website in our country,’ Izvestia quoted a source within the communications regulator Roskomnadzor as saying.

BDST: 1800 HRS, AUG 05, 2014