The Guardian: Peskov and Kiriyenko failed to talk Putin out of harsh internet restrictions

People from Vladimir Putin's inner circle, including Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov and presidential administration deputy chief Sergei Kiriyenko, attempted to convince the Russian president to abandon the most severe internet censorship measures, according to The Guardian. Their efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.

Key figures from Vladimir Putin's inner circle reportedly tried and failed to persuade the Russian president to pull back from imposing sweeping internet restrictions in Russia, The Guardian reports, citing confidential sources familiar with the matter.

Among those who attempted to moderate Putin's approach were Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov and Sergei Kiriyenko, the first deputy head of the presidential administration. Both men are considered to be among the most influential figures surrounding the Russian leader, making their failure to sway him particularly notable.

Despite internal pushback from trusted advisers, Putin reportedly pressed ahead with plans for tighter internet controls. The unsuccessful lobbying effort reveals rare cracks within the Kremlin's inner workings, where open disagreement with the president's decisions is exceptionally uncommon.

Russia has significantly escalated its efforts to control online information space in recent years, blocking or slowing access to major foreign platforms and social media services. Critics and digital rights organisations have long warned that the country is moving toward a model of internet governance similar to China's so-called "sovereign internet" — a heavily filtered and state-monitored network largely cut off from the global web.