Google received 2 undecillion rubles of financial penalty from Russia, i.e. 2.5 decillion dollars – the Russian portal reported RBCciting anonymous sources. Another hearing took place on Monday, September 28. It concerns a lawsuit against the corporation filed by 17 Russian television stations. Fines for Google began to accumulate in 2020, when media outlets such as Tsargrad and RIA FAN won lawsuits against the giant.
Russia imposes a financial penalty on Google
The media report that the amount is to increase with each passing day. Russia demands that the company restore channels belonging to pro-Kremlin media on YouTube. This includes: o profiles of Zvezda TV, Channel One and VGTRK. The giant blocked them and does not agree to reinstate them due to their line supporting the invasion of Ukraine. Russia responded with fines, but did not block YouTube.
Google is going bankrupt, there is a fight in the courts
The Russian subsidiary of Google announced bankruptcy in the summer of 2022. As he writes “The Moscow Times“, the company was formally declared bankrupt in the fall of 2023. Alphabet Inc., i.e owner Google previously stopped advertising in Russia, adapting to Western ones sanctions related to the war in Ukraine.
The RBC website reports that the Russian media asked, among others, to the courts of Turkey, Hungary, Spain and South Africa with a request to recognize and enforce court decisions issued against Google in Russia. In June, the court in South Africa granted the request to take over Google's assets in this country. This happened after the corporation failed to comply with a Russian court order to restore the account of the Spas TV channel on YouTube.
Google itself filed lawsuits in US and UK courts in August against the owners of Russian TV channels RT, Tsargrad and Spas. The company is seeking a decision that will prohibit television stations from initiating legal proceedings outside Russia. Google has also filed similar lawsuits in England and Wales.