Google appeals against court decision to unblock Russian YouTube channel
Konstantin Malofeev, the owner of the channel, was placed under US and EU sanctions in 2014 over accusations that he funded pro-Moscow separatists fighting in Ukraine
20 May 2021 - 14:13
byAlexander Marrow
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Moscow — Google’s Russian arm said on Thursday it had lodged an appeal against a Moscow court order obliging it to unblock the YouTube account of a Christian Orthodox news channel owned by a Russian businessperson who is under US and EU financial sanctions.
Tsargrad TV, which is owned by Konstantin Malofeev, says YouTube blocked its account in July 2020 without providing a reason. Google said at the time that it has a policy of suspending accounts found to violate sanctions or trade restriction rules.
In April, the Moscow Arbitration Court said Google must restore Tsargrad's account or face a daily 100,000 rouble ($1,358.29) fine, which would double each week that Google failed to comply.
Malofeev was placed under US and EU sanctions in 2014 over accusations that he funded pro-Moscow separatists fighting in Ukraine, which he denies. Russia considers such Western sanctions illegal.
The dispute with YouTube is one of a number of cases in which US tech and social media giants have drawn the ire of the Russian state. President Vladimir Putin accused social media companies of “monopolism” in a speech earlier in 2021 to the World Economic Forum.
Russia has been punitively impeding the speed of Twitter since March and warned other tech platforms, including YouTube, over failing to delete content it deems illegal.
“We’ve now filed an appeal against April’s Tsargrad ruling, because it sets aside the prior decisions of multiple Russian courts, and comes with a penalty that is out of all proportion to the matter at hand,” Google Russia said in a statement.
“We’re also appealing because the decision creates a great deal of uncertainty for foreign investors — like Google — in Russia. We look forward to presenting our arguments in detail at the appeal hearing.”
Malofeev’s representatives said they categorically disagreed with Google’s appeal and its interpretation of the ruling.
“We believe that the earlier ruling is absolutely legal and we will prove this in the appeal hearing, which is likely to take place at the end of June,” Malofeev’s press secretary, Valeriy Rukobratskiy, told Reuters.
Google Russia said the appeal had been filed on Wednesday.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Google appeals against court decision to unblock Russian YouTube channel
Konstantin Malofeev, the owner of the channel, was placed under US and EU sanctions in 2014 over accusations that he funded pro-Moscow separatists fighting in Ukraine
Moscow — Google’s Russian arm said on Thursday it had lodged an appeal against a Moscow court order obliging it to unblock the YouTube account of a Christian Orthodox news channel owned by a Russian businessperson who is under US and EU financial sanctions.
Tsargrad TV, which is owned by Konstantin Malofeev, says YouTube blocked its account in July 2020 without providing a reason. Google said at the time that it has a policy of suspending accounts found to violate sanctions or trade restriction rules.
In April, the Moscow Arbitration Court said Google must restore Tsargrad's account or face a daily 100,000 rouble ($1,358.29) fine, which would double each week that Google failed to comply.
Malofeev was placed under US and EU sanctions in 2014 over accusations that he funded pro-Moscow separatists fighting in Ukraine, which he denies. Russia considers such Western sanctions illegal.
The dispute with YouTube is one of a number of cases in which US tech and social media giants have drawn the ire of the Russian state. President Vladimir Putin accused social media companies of “monopolism” in a speech earlier in 2021 to the World Economic Forum.
Russia has been punitively impeding the speed of Twitter since March and warned other tech platforms, including YouTube, over failing to delete content it deems illegal.
“We’ve now filed an appeal against April’s Tsargrad ruling, because it sets aside the prior decisions of multiple Russian courts, and comes with a penalty that is out of all proportion to the matter at hand,” Google Russia said in a statement.
“We’re also appealing because the decision creates a great deal of uncertainty for foreign investors — like Google — in Russia. We look forward to presenting our arguments in detail at the appeal hearing.”
Malofeev’s representatives said they categorically disagreed with Google’s appeal and its interpretation of the ruling.
“We believe that the earlier ruling is absolutely legal and we will prove this in the appeal hearing, which is likely to take place at the end of June,” Malofeev’s press secretary, Valeriy Rukobratskiy, told Reuters.
Google Russia said the appeal had been filed on Wednesday.
Reuters
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