As the bad blood between the United States and Russia continues to boil over, Russian Authorities have issued a severe warning to US internet giant Google against meddling in any form in Russian Elections.
The warnings come as a video of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny calling for mass protests on September 9, went viral on social media.
Russia then warned Google whom it accused of spreading the video to take it down from its platform because authorities consider it as a form of election meddling; same thing the United States have been accusing Russia of doing.
Representatives of Russia’s electoral commission, the Prosecutor-General’s Office as well as the state internet watchdog also alleged that the opposition leader Navalny uses Google’s services to disseminate what Russia terms as ‘illegal information’ warning that Google officials will be prosecuted if it continues to help Navalny spread information.
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Alexander Klyukin a Central Election Commission member told the press that the commission had sent an official letter to Larry Page, the CEO of Google’s parent company Alphabet, regarding the use of YouTube by Russia’s opposition leader.
“Mr. Navalny buys the company’s advertising tools to publish information on YouTube about the mass political event on September 9, on the day of elections. We informed Google that such events on election day will lead to massive violation of the law because political agitation is banned on election day. Meddling by a foreign company in our election is not permitted.” He said.
Alexei Navalny, a fierce critic of Russian strongman Putin had urged Russian citizens to come out and protest on September 9, during regional and local elections across the country.
Navalny is also currently serving a 30-day sentence for violating public order laws during a protest earlier this year.
An official belonging to Russia’s internet watchdog Roskomnadzor, Vadim Subbotin, laid accusing fingers at foreign internet platforms who he accused of disrespecting Russian laws as well as serving as mouthpiece for disseminating illegal information in the country.
He also alleged that Google-owned YouTube acts as a link in the chain for the propaganda of anti-social behaviour during Russian elections. According to him;
“Over 40” YouTube channels constantly call for violating Russian law. Certain parties interested in destabilising the situation in Russia attempt to attract internet users to illegal actions by providing unlimited opportunities on foreign internet giants like Google.”