Google's refusal to support its servers in Russia behind deterioration of YouTube performance - regulator

MOSCOW. July 26 (Interfax) - The Russian telecoms regulator Roskomnadzor has linked the deteriorating quality of the YouTube video hosting service in Russia to the fact that Google has wrapped up its support and maintenance of infrastructure related to the Google Global Cache system of servers in Russia since it left the country.

"It has been two years since Google left Russia, choosing to see its Moscow office going bankrupt and stopping to support the infrastructure of its caching servers on our communication networks. This approach is resulting in the declining quality of the video service's performance, which we are observing right now," Roskomnadzor's press service told Interfax.

At the same time, "the number of instances where YouTube blocks Russian channels is growing further," it said. The regulator recalled that on July 10, it had sent another letter to the director of the Google head office, demanding that the channels be unblocked, but "received no reply." Meanwhile, the total amount of fines that Google has been ordered to pay by Russian courts of justice over the past three years topped 25 billion rubles, it said. "But this measure did not help either," the Russian regulator said.

"Numerous violations of our laws, disregard for our country and citizens provide a strong case for taking measures against YouTube. And we have enough instruments to motivate the company in a situation like this. We reserve the right to use them," it said.