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Holy shit.
The Russian gov send in an abuse request for the @Bellingcat to be removed from mstdn.social 
I am not gonna comply, and have replied to Hetzner
No way I'm gonna let the evils of the gremlin dictate stuff on anything I host
UPDATE: Hetzner ignores their requests and we're in the clear: https://mstdn.social/@stux/113662573364116275
@stux@mstdn.socialIf we do need to comply with Hetzner on this, I'm gonna look into an option to get mstdn.social in-home, like literally so they won't be able to touch anything
But that's a last resort since I do not have the hardware not money for that currently
At least there's options just in case
@stux If Hetzner really want to comply with this - then it is the wrong step and we should show that to Hetzner...
@Bellingcat
@stux @Bellingcat luckily you won't have to, but I would chip in if necessary.
@stux @Bellingcat if Hetzner will kick you or similar just DM me and we provide you a server free of charge for it
@stux @Bellingcat I have no idea about your requirements but you can contact me for hosting if necessary
@stux I guess Hetzner just forwards it without any opinion. I wouldn't panic. Russia doesn't have any jurisdiction in Germany or the Netherlands. It's pure bluff.
@joenepraat @stux they might start a civil suit, in that case, I know a great information law lawyer that won't bleed you dry and has won several cases for on line activists. And I'm sure lots of people will help raising funds.
@joenepraat @stux They have no jurisdiction, and there is no way they can enforce Russian law in the Netherlands. But they can try under Dutch civil law, with a claim of libel, like everyone else, and hire a Dutch lawyer from the Zuidas.
That would still not be a reason to give in, because it is unlikely they would win. It might cost a pretty penny if they decide to go all the way to the supreme court, so we best be ready to donate if needed.
@joenepraat @stux yes,might just be a civil servant going through the motions of doing his duty. After all Russia has a serious bureaucratic system.
@joenepraat @stux Hetzner does kick you for Russian abuse. Better dont ask why.
@joenepraat @stux but if you need some server just DM me. We ignore such emails :)
@stux @Bellingcat Hetzner is a fucking clowncar for not routing mail from *.ru to /dev/null (or a public laughing stock hall of shame).
@dalias @stux @Bellingcat Doesn't Putin spread propaganda that western countries hate Russians? That will just confirm it.
@light @stux @Bellingcat Even if that were true, troll, why would we care? It doesn't matter in the slightest what they think.
@dalias @stux @Bellingcat Because Russians are still people, even if their government is full of assholes.
@light @stux @Bellingcat Yes, absolutely, but that doesn't impose an obligation to entertain legal complaints from their country just to show them we respect their humanity.
@dalias @stux @Bellingcat I never said it did. You said to route mail from *.ru not *.gov.ru
@light @stux @Bellingcat Yes I did. You don't have to respect legal requests from a jurisdiction with no legitimate government/law.
@dalias @stux @Bellingcat So, you mean just mail to their takedown requests inbox or...?
@light @stux @Bellingcat Yeah basically.
look into the cybergeek brand on amazon. you’d be amazed at what 550$ can get you. Do it quick before drumpf causes the prices to treble. Don’t be afraid to ask users to help you with it. I’d throw a 20$ bill your way just for shits and giggles.
Have to wonder how #Bluesky could stand up to this kind of pressure. Long live decentralization and the #fediverse. Thanks, Stux.
@stux What is the current server at hetzner?
I am evaluating if I can help if you go hosting@not-DataCenter.
Isn't Herzner known for taking down queer(-friendly) instances without really letting them defending themselves?
@stux sadly then they will go the DNS provider route 
@stux @Bellingcat Hetzner has previously taken action re: Russian dealings. So 
https://lowendbox.com/blog/hetzner-tells-russian-customers-to-get-lost/
@tankgrrl @Bellingcat Seems positive! (for us)
@stux @Bellingcat @tankgrrl As a former Hetzner customer from Russia I want to add I have positive experience with them and I think they generally handled the situation in very careful manner - despite what the headline from the linked article implies.
First when the 02.2022 escalation started and payment systems were about to get cut Hetzner provided a way for private customers from Russia to top up their balances in advance so their services could work for some time until migration was done or the situation was resolved.
Later when EU sanctions tightened and they had to cancel servicing Russian accounts completely they didn't stop abruptly but again provided a consult on how some accounts could be kept compliant with the sanctions and not shut off.
Given how much ordinary Russian people rely on VPNs and other ways to get around the government censorship and how unsafe certain domestic services (social networks in particular) are - Hetzner did a good thing for a lot of people here and I am grateful to them.
@stux @Bellingcat if needed we can help out. Just let me know.
@koen @Bellingcat Will keep in mind! 
thank you!
@stux @Bellingcat we could also set up a separate bellingcat instance if that would be more appropriate or convenient.
@koen It's just authoritarian bluff. Even if it came from the German or Dutch government, I wouldn't take it that seriously. But yes, you never know with Hetzner nowadays. 
They just pull the plug out of nowhere.
Strange as it may seem I feel the need to defend Hetzner here: they are in the ‘make money at scale’ game. If they have to spend time on fighting with authority that is very expensive and it might harm them very much.
Let’s see what happens and give them the benefit of the doubt in the mean time.
@stux hetzner.com is blocked in Russia, so they probably don't care
@stux @Bellingcat Now might be a good time to do a in-instance pop-up notification to your users and warning that you may experience downtime and why.
@stux @Bellingcat If it comes to migrating the service away because of politically motivated cease and desist, then I would not be surprised if a provider like @freedominternet is more than happy to help you out. Their dedication to having an open and accessible internet aligns pretty well with this, after all. Before going the route of self-hosting stuff, I would give them a call.