DISINFO: Google’s decision to remove Tsargrad is another example of political censorship
SUMMARY
Google’s decision is another example of political censorship, violation of freedom of expression, and the principle of equal access to information. Once again, the monopolists in the American technology market follow the official Washington leadership, which uses unscrupulous methods to clean up the global information field from Russian sources.
RESPONSE
A recurring pro-Kremlin narrative about Russophobia, allegedly directed at the pro-Kremlin media. The Youtube account of the TV channel "Tsargrad", owned by Russian businessman Konstantin Malofeev, was blocked due to a violation of the law. Google representatives commented to RBC about it.
“Google complies with all applicable sanctions and trade compliance laws. If we find that an account violates these laws, then we take appropriate action,” the company said.
The lawyers of "Tsargrad" explained the reason for the blocking by the fact that Konstantin Malofeev is on the US sanctions' lists. The decision to remove Tsargrad TV from Youtube was therefore a legal decision based on the inclusion of its owner, Konstantin Maolofeyev, in the US and the EU sanctions list for financing separatist movements in Eastern Ukraine. In the European Council decision to sanction Mr Malofeev, it was stated that:
"Mr Malofeev is closely linked to Ukrainian separatists in Eastern Ulkraine and Crimea. He is a former employer of Mr Borodai, so-called Prime Minister of the so-called ‘Donetsk People's Republic’ and met with Mr Aksyonov, so-called Prime Minister of the so-called ‘Republic of Crimea’, during the period of the Crimean annexation process.
Malofeev gave a number of public statements supporting the illegal annexation of Crimea and incorporation of Ukraine into Russia and notably stated in June 2014 that ‘You can't incorporate the whole of Ukraine into Russia. The East (of Ukraine) maybe’. Shortly after the inclusion of Malofeev in the EU sanctions list, he was added to a US sanctions list in 2014 for his engagement in illegal activities, and the decision to remove Tsargrad TV by Youtube was an implementation of this sanction. According to the US Department of the Treasury, Malofeev is on the sanction list because "he is responsible for, complicit in, or has engaged in, actions or policies that threaten the peace, security, stability, sovereignty, or territorial integrity of Ukraine and has materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to, or in support of, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic."
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