Google took down a serial of YouTube advertizing for Russian foeman leader Alexei Navalny before a vote for regional governors on Sunday and amid dissent over President Vladimir Putin ’s plans to raise the retirement years for state pensions , theGuardian report .
Navalny ’s team is obviously condemning YouTube for the conclusion , with aide Leonid Volkov calling it a “ absolved case of political censorship . ” For its part , Google is saying the company ’s hands were tied by local law requiring all campaigning to discontinue for 24 time of day before an election . The Guardian wrote :
Russian officials sent a letter toGooglelast month asking it to block Navalny ’s videos because it allege they were illegal under the country ’s election laws , which block up political campaigning 24 hours before elections .
Volkov accused Russian official of pulling one over on Google , say “ The rally do not have anything to do with the elections , ” and that the order was illegal . He characterize it as the first time Google has join forces with Russian authorities ’ demands for censoring of the opposition effort to Putin .
Navalny is no unknown to backlash from Russian leaders after he run against Putin appointee Sergei Sobyanin for the mayorship of Moscow in 2013 . He has a long arrest record , including on charge of dupery in 2014 that European human rights tourist court harness were “ arbitrary and manifestly unreasonable . ” Navalnycampaigned for the presidencyin elections that took place in March 2018 , though Russian courtsbarred himfrom running formally , citing the fraud conviction .
The Navalny - organized protests are against a Putin - pass conclusion to raise country pension eligibility ages by five days , which the Guardian reported Levada Centre polling face or so 80 percent foeman from the public . Yet per theWashington Post , they consisted mostly of core Navalny supporters thanks in part to fear of catch :
The protests Sunday were unusual in their CRO , with Navalny suspensor organise some 115 events across the country . But they appear humble than the demonstration he orchestrated last June , when Russian news medium estimated that at least 50,000 the great unwashed dissent nationwide .
The protests are unlikely to have an immediate political impact in Russia , where voters will go to the polls in the March 18 presidential election and deliver what is expected to be a resounding countenance of a fourth term for Putin . But they showed the resiliency of a vocal nonage of Navalny supporters , even in Russia ’s far - flung region , who are willing to risk hitch to back his grass - beginning run to unseat Putin .
Googleshutteredits technology bureau in Russia in 2014 amid the passage of laws to demand internet companies to store datum topically and a ascent in request by Russian regulatorsto pulling mental object . On prior occasions , it has seeminglyrefused to complywith takedown orders from Russian authority .
Earlier this month the Russian election commission as well as prosecutors and cyberspace regulators warned Google of their stance that “ Navalny uses Google ’s avail to disseminate illegal information , ” warning “ that the company may be prosecuted if it does not act to block off this,”according to Agence France - Presse . Russian authorities characterize Google as a U.S. influence tool that would meddle in their elections .
[ Guardian ]
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