YouTube confirms deletion of video of Russian Foreign Ministry briefing

MOSCOW. April 7 (Interfax) - The press service for the video hosting YouTube has confirmed to Interfax the deletion from the platform of a recording of a briefing given by Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova.

The recording was deleted due to violations of the policies of the video hosting on situations of violence in Ukraine, the press service said.

Zakharova told a briefing on April 6 YouTube had blocked a video of her March 17 speech published on the official account of the Russian Foreign Ministry. She said the video hosting site had said it was a temporary restriction imposed due to violations of community rules. "The ban is motivated by some violations of community rules, namely, efforts to prevent discriminatory statements," Zakharova said.

Russia's telecoms watchdog Roskomnadzor demanded that Google lift the restrictions imposed on the video by YouTube and explain the reasons for their imposition.