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Russia is mulling measures to protect its cyberspace from the "unpredictable" West, President Vladimir Putin's spokesman told AFP on Friday, as experts warned the Kremlin may be considering disconnecting the country from the global web.

The respected business daily Vedomosti, citing industry sources, said Putin will convene a meeting on Monday of the Security Council to discuss possible restrictions on Russian cyberspace, the last major forum for free expression in the country.

Vedomosti said authorities were contemplating measures, to be put in place by early next year, to unplug Russia from the global web in emergency situations such as major protests or military hostilities.

The Kremlin could try to justify such a clamp-down by whipping up fears that it's the West that wants to disconnect Russia from the web, said industry experts.

Analysts say similar measures have been introduced by countries such as Iran and Cuba, which developed national Internet limits to curb the spread of Western culture and ideas.

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the Security Council meeting on Internet security would take place, but he declined to discuss details of the agenda.

Peskov said authorities have no plans to disconnect Russian cyberspace, but that they need measures to protect the country from the West.

"Taking into account the complete unpredictability of the United States and European Union, Russia is taking measures to ensure its own security," Peskov told AFP.

"Security measures for the Russian Internet are constantly discussed at various levels and at various ministries taking into account the unpredictability of our foreign partners."

Russia not 'disconnecting itself'

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Kremlin Mulling Unplugging Russia's Internet, Blaming West