Contact: Caroline Tabler (202) 224-2353

Washington, D.C. - Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today released the following statement after social-media companies YouTube and Instagram censored content on Russian opposition leaders' accounts. In addition, Instagram was found to have cooperated further with the Putin regime by blocking access to posts deemed embarrassing by Russian officials.

"It's disappointing that these social-media companies, supposedly dedicated to freedom of expression, would shut down one of the few voices of opposition to Vladimir Putin just a month before Russia's elections. Putin's henchmen don't need any help rigging the results, and it's not asking too much to expect American companies to defend American values in all corners of the globe."