MOSCOW, October 3 (RAPSI) – Information showing disrespect to Russia, its society and official state symbols has been deleted from 79 websites, according to a statement released by the communications watchdog Roskomnadzor.

According to Roskomnadzor, after the enactment of the law protecting Russia’s state symbols, the watchdog received 45 claims against 85 Internet pages from the Prosecutor General’s Office, the most part of which (70%) related to the insults of Russia’s Constitution, flag and emblem.

To the date, four URLs have been blocked, banned information has been removed from 79 URLs and removal of the information from 2 websites is expected, the statement reads.

On March 18, President Vladimir Putin signed a bill on blocking of websites containing defamatory information insulting Russia's society, state symbols and state bodies into law. The law stipulates fines from 30,000 rubles (about $455) to 100,000 rubles ($1,500). In case the offence is committed for the second time, it is to be punishable with fines from 100,000 rubles to 200,000 rubles ($1,500 – 3,000), or administrative detention for up to 15 days. Repeated violations are to be punished with fines ranging from 200,000 rubles to 300,000 rubles ($3,000 – 4,500), or administrative detention for the same term.

In early July, Putin entrusted prosecutors, police and Roskomndazor with analyzing the regulatory enforcement and ordered them to take measures if needed to prevent unfounded penalties and website blocking until November 1.