As reported by news agencies, a Moscow court has ordered the seizure of Google’s property and in the Russian fund, valued at 500 million rubles ($7 million). The order stems from a lawsuit filed against the American tech giant over restrictions placed on the YouTube channel of a prominent television company.
Google, which is owned by Alphabet Inc., did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
It was reported by Russian news outlets that the issue involves GPM Entertainment Television, a subsidiary of Gazprom Media Holding, which filed a lawsuit against Google, requesting that the company be granted access to its YouTube account.
Even though YouTube has restricted Russian state-funded media across the world, the company is under intense pressure from Russia’s communications regulator and lawmakers.
To maintain control over information flows following the deployment of tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on February 24, Russia has blocked certain other international internet companies, including Meta Platform Inc.’s Facebook and Instagram. YouTube is still accessible for the time being.
“The demand of GPM Entertainment Television on the imposition of interim measures has been granted,” the Moscow Arbitration Court was cited as saying by Interfax.
This would include “seizing monies (including cash that would be deposited into bank accounts) as well as any moveable and fixed property owned by Google, for a total value of 500 million Russian rubles,” according to the statement.
On April 13, the RIA reported that a prior claim by GPM Entertainment Television had been dismissed by the legal system.
Gazprom Media controls several important social media and television assets in Russia, some of which are profiting from the flight of international internet companies and the resulting embargo of foreign internet companies.
Published By – Supreeti Ghosh
