WASHINGTON, March 22. /TASS/. The United States condemned Russia’s decision to ban activities of Meta (the organization’s activities are banned on the territory of the Russian Federation) as an extremist organization, spokesperson for the US Department of State Ned Price said.

"We condemn a Moscow court’s decision to designate Meta, including Facebook and Instagram, as ‘extremist’. This assault on access to information must stop," he wrote on Twitter.

On March 21, a Moscow court has recognized the activities of Instagram and Facebook, social networks owned by Meta Platforms, as extremist and banned their operation in Russia. Earlier, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) insisted on banning Instagram and Facebook.

The ban does not apply to Meta’s WhatsApp messenger, the prosecutor explained earlier. Apart from that, in his words, people and organizations will not be brought to responsibility on extremism charges for using Facebook and Instagram. Under the court ruling, Meta is banned from opening offices and conducting commercial activities in Russia.