TFR has opened a criminal case on the “Group of Death” in the network “VKontakte” – BBC Russian

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Image caption believe in the TFR, some groups in the social network promoting suicide among adolescents

in St. Petersburg opened a criminal case for inciting teenagers to commit suicide through a group on the social network “VKontakte”, the press service of the Investigative Committee of Russia .

“CSO TFR in St. Petersburg checked the number of publications in May 2016 in a variety of media information about closed groups in” VKontakte “leaning teen suicide. Based on this review a decision to open a criminal investigation the crime under part 4 of Art. 33, Art. 110 of the Criminal Code (incitement to incitement to suicide), “- said in a statement TFR

In the course of investigation of the case investigation to be conducted by the linguistic and computer expertise, as well as other activities to clarify all the circumstances of a possible crime

on Monday, the “Novaya Gazeta” published an investigation into the so-called group of death -. community network “VKontakte” dedicated to the theme of suicide article was devoted to the investigation that is conducted mother of one of the schoolgirls committed suicide

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The main source of information in the article are just the parents of teenagers. As noted by critics of the article, the newspaper’s journalists did not contact with independent experts and groups of administrators.

The newspaper reported that the social network in closed groups allegedly promoted suicide, and adolescent psychological pressure. According to the publication, in the past six months with a committed 130 children who were in closed groups.

The investigation of the “Novaya Gazeta” was enough resonance. Tuesday authorized the Presidential Council for Children’s Rights Pavel Astakhov said that he intends to apply to the UK with a request to verify the information on the groups that promote suicide.

Check the data set forth in the “Novaya Gazeta” has begun and Roskomnadzor together with Rospotrebnadzor .

Several media expressed doubts about the impartiality of the author of the material in the “Novaya Gazeta” and the truth of the facts set out there.

A detailed analysis of the articles of “Novaya Gazeta” prepared Meduza. Publication doubt the figure of 130 suicides since the beginning of the year, and also accuses the author that he had contacted government agencies, administrators of groups and experts.

A number of media have carried out additional investigation material and contact with the administrators closed groups.

Lenta.ru has published its investigation the next day. The publication does not deny that some of the groups really promoted suicide.

However, some editions of the interlocutors was informed that with the help of these groups just trying to attract the attention of teenagers who are prone to suicide, and help them. In particular, this user reported aka Ocean Whale.

Some administrators explained that it was just a realistic game that got out of control. Media reported that many young people, in agreement with the administrator of the group, staged a suicide in social networks.

None of the media could not confirm the figure of 130 committed suicide teens.

However, journalists, investigating this issue, do not rule out that some teenagers who participated in the groups could really commit suicide because of their own problems, as well as under the influence of depressive content of closed groups.

Many users of social networks in the last week posted their the investigation of the incident. Subject teenage suicide oriented groups have long debated on the Internet. There is an opinion that it is – a kind of adolescent subculture

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