Roskomnadzor demands Google immediately stop censoring Russian media, online resources on YouTube

MOSCOW. April 1 (Interfax) - The Russian telecommunications regulator Roskomnadzor has demanded that YouTube lift restrictions on channels run by the PolitRussia online publication, adding that it has recorded about 60 acts of censorship against Russian media and other online resources on the video hosting platform.

"To date, the agency has recorded about 60 acts of censorship in relation to the pages of mass media, educational film projects, Russian public figures and organizations. Roskomnadzor is calling on Google to immediately stop any restrictions on the YouTube platform with regard to Russian media and [online] resources, to ensure free access to information for Russian users in line with existing Russian laws," the Russian regulator said in a statement on Friday.

In particular, Roskomnadzor demanded on Friday that the administration of YouTube "lift the restrictions imposed on the group of channels of the independent Internet publication PolitRussia and explain why they have been introduced."

"Such actions by the administration of the U.S. platform fundamentally violate the key principles of free distribution of information and unimpeded access to it," it said.