So is Wikileaks really supported by Russia?

That’s the allegation. So let’s take a brief look at the evidence….

First, I go to my command line:


$ host wikileaks.org
wikileaks.org has address 95.211.113.154
wikileaks.org has address 141.105.65.113
wikileaks.org has address 95.211.113.131
wikileaks.org has address 141.105.69.239
wikileaks.org mail is handled by 1 mx.wikileaks.org.
$


I recognize all of those addresses as belonging to RIPE, the European number assignment registrar. So I go see who they belong to:


$ whois -h whois.ripe.net 141.105.69.239
% This is the RIPE Database query service.
% The objects are in RPSL format.
%
% The RIPE Database is subject to Terms and Conditions.
% See http://www.ripe.net/db/support/db-terms-conditions.pdf

% Note: this output has been filtered.
% To receive output for a database update, use the "-B" flag.

% Information related to '141.105.64.0 - 141.105.71.255'

% Abuse contact for '141.105.64.0 - 141.105.71.255' is 'abuse@hostkey.ru'

inetnum: 141.105.64.0 - 141.105.71.255
netname: RU-HOSTKEY-20110627
country: RU
org: ORG-MTL21-RIPE
admin-c: PC7356-RIPE
tech-c: PC7356-RIPE
tech-c: PC7356-RIPE
status: ALLOCATED PA
mnt-by: RIPE-NCC-HM-MNT
mnt-by: MTLM-MNT
mnt-routes: MTLM-MNT
remarks: abuse-mailbox: abuse@hostkey.com
created: 2011-06-27T08:53:56Z
last-modified: 2016-09-30T12:14:02Z
source: RIPE # Filtered

organisation: ORG-MTL21-RIPE
org-name: Mir Telematiki Ltd
org-type: LIR
address: Barabannii pereulok 4/4
address: 107023
address: Moscow
address: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
phone: +7 495 369 9796
fax-no: +7 495 369 9796
mnt-ref: MTLM-MNT
mnt-ref: RIPE-NCC-HM-MNT
mnt-by: RIPE-NCC-HM-MNT
mnt-by: MTLM-MNT
abuse-mailbox: abuse@hostkey.ru
abuse-c: HA2800-RIPE
created: 2010-10-06T10:46:46Z
last-modified: 2016-09-30T12:14:19Z
source: RIPE # Filtered

person: Peter Chayanov
address: Moscow, Russia
phone: +7 495 369 97 96
nic-hdl: PC7356-RIPE
mnt-by: MTLM-MNT
abuse-mailbox: abuse@hostkey.ru
created: 2008-10-19T20:57:02Z
last-modified: 2015-12-25T05:44:46Z
source: RIPE

% Information related to '141.105.69.0/24AS49335'

route: 141.105.69.0/24
descr: NCONNECT-NET direct announce
origin: AS49335
mnt-by: MTLM-MNT
created: 2013-10-01T18:22:47Z
last-modified: 2013-10-01T18:22:47Z
source: RIPE

% This query was served by the RIPE Database Query Service version 1.88 (WAGYU)


Bingo. Wikileaks is hosted in Russia.

But, you say, there’s private hosting companies in Russia, surely Wikileaks is just paying for hosting there?

Not so fast. You don’t run a controversial web site in Russia without the approval of the Putin regime. It is not done. Like the 34 journalists who reported things that Putin did not want reported. It’s just coincidence that they reported things Putin didn’t want reported, and ended up dead. SNERK!

So: Wikileaks is operating out of Russia with the full approval of the Putin regime. Stick that up your pipe and smoke it, already.

Not that this excuses the fact that we had enough dumbasses in enough states who believed the Russian disinformation campaign who voted for Putin’s lapdog for President, thereby putting President Putin in charge of the United States in all but name. But that’s another issue.

– Badtux the “Yeah, the Russians did it” Penguin