Google is the subject of a Moscow court order obliging it to
unblock the YouTube account of Tsargrad TV, a Christian Orthodox channel owned
by Konstantin Malofeev, who is under US and EU financial sanctions, but in May
it appealed the ruling.
The appeal hearing was due to take place on Monday but has
now been postponed to September 20, both parties to the case said. Tsargrad TV
said the postponement was to give the court more time to familiarise itself
with new documents brought by Google.
The dispute with YouTube is one of a number of cases in
which US tech and social media giants have drawn the ire of the Russian state.
Russia has fined Google and others over failing to delete content it deems
illegal, as well as other offences, including failing to localise user data.
Tsargrad TV on Monday said Google's lawyers were not
engaging with constructive conversation. "There was a feeling that Google
was deliberately prolonging any negotiation process and dragging its
feet," it said in a statement.
In response to a request for comment, Google (part of
Alphabet), said only that the hearing had been postponed until Sept. 20.
Tsargrad TV said YouTube had blocked its account in July
2020 without providing a reason. Google said at the time it has a policy of
suspending accounts found to violate sanctions or trade restriction rules.
In April, the Moscow Arbitration Court said Google must
restore Tsargrad's account or face a daily RUB 100,000 (roughly Rs. 1 lakh)
fine, which would double each week that Google failed to comply. Those fines
have not yet been levied pending the outcome of the appeal.
Malofeev was placed under US and EU sanctions in 2014 over
accusations that he funded pro-Moscow separatists fighting in Ukraine, which he
denies. Russia considers such Western sanctions illegal.
© Reuters