The LiveJournal blog of an opposition leader Alexey Navalny and several other independent websites have been included to the Russian Internet blacklist, Russia's telecoms watchdog said on Thursday.

      The anti-Kremlin activist, who is currently under house arrest, is forbidden from leaving his residence – an apartment in the Moscow suburbs – and from using the Internet, telephone or any other means of communication with the world outside of his family, lawyers and police investigators until April 28.

      "There are regular updates in Navalny's personal Internet blog, which violates a court ruling establishing terms of confinement for a citizen who is under criminal investigation,” telecoms watchdog Roscomnadzor said in a statement.

      Navalny, who played a leading role in mass street protests against Russian president Vladimir Putin in the winter of 2011-2012, is under investigation together with his brother Oleg for allegedly embezzling money from cosmetics company Yves Rocher.

      Roscomnadzor also blacklisted independent website grani.ru, opposition website Kasparov.ru and the online newspaper Yezhednevny Zhurnal for “inciting users to engage in unlawful activities and take part in mass rallies that are in breach of the law.”

      “Telecommunication companies have been ordered to immediately restrict access to all these resources,” the watchdog said.

      A 2012 law allows Russian state agencies to block, without a court order, websites they deem to be promoting illegal content.