Update: Namecheap contacted us and stated that the deadline for moving to another provider for Russian users is March 22. The company also stated,
« Namecheap Russia policy update:
We would like to make a correction to our policy of terminating services to customers in Russia — announced yesterday.
Firstly, we will make exceptions for all anti-regime media, protest resources, and any type of websites that are helping to end this war and regime — we will continue to welcome you using our services. Please accept our apologies for any disruption this caused, and we thank you for helping to fight against this tyranny.
The above also applies if you are no longer a resident of Russia and do not support the regime in any way.
Extending original termination date
For those who will still be affected by our decision to terminate Namecheap services to Russia, we are extending the termination date to three weeks from today. Please make sure you have moved your services to another provider by March 22, 2022.
If there are legitimate reasons that you may need more time, we will make exceptions if they are deemed reasonable.
Thank you for your understanding
We are thankful to everyone who supports Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. Civilians are being killed at this very moment by Russian forces, paid for directly or indirectly by the taxes of Russian citizens. We hope every person in Russia can understand this and recognize the horrible atrocities that are happening right now being committed by the Russian regime. »
Namecheap has sent an email to its customers registered in Russia, informing them that the company is terminating its services in the country because of the war between Russia and Ukraine. Namecheap customers in Russia should move their domains to other providers before the 6th of March. Namecheap announced that they will help customers who are looking for assistance with the move.
Namecheap terminated services for Russia pic.twitter.com/65K1TKgGOW
— banteg (@bantg) February 28, 2022
403 Forbidden HTTP
According to the company’s announcement, the company will configure the affected domains to display 403 Forbidden HTTP errors. Namecheap CEO Richard Kirkendall stated that this isn’t de-platforming, because there are many service providers customers can choose from. Richard Kirkendall, CEO of Namecheap said,
« We haven’t blocked the domains, we are asking people to move. There are plenty of other choices out there when it comes to infrastructure services so this isn’t “deplatforming”. I sympathize with people that are not pro regime but ultimately even those tax dollars they may generate go to the regime. We have people on the ground in Ukraine being bombarded now non stop. I cannot with good conscience continue to support the Russian regime in any way, shape or form. People that are getting angry need to point that at the cause, their own government. If more grace time is necessary for some to move, we will provide it. Free speech is one thing but this decision is more about a government that is committing war crimes against innocent people that we want nothing to do with. »