Google's Russian Subsidiary Reportedly Submits Bankruptcy Declaration

Google and its YouTube video hosting service, though under pressure, remain available for now.

By Reuters | Updated: 17 June 2022 16:59 IST

Google's Russian Subsidiary Reportedly Submits Bankruptcy Declaration

Photo Credit: Reuters

Google plans to keep its free service up like YouTube, Android, Gmail, more

Highlights

Google Russia’s bank account has been seized by Russian authorities
Russia has already restricted Twitter, Facebook, Instagram
Google is reportedly not yet at risk of being blocked

The Russian subsidiary of Alphabet's Google has submitted a declaration of bankruptcy, Interfax reported on Friday, citing court filings online.

The subsidiary announced plans to file for bankruptcy in May after authorities seized its bank account, making it impossible to pay staff and vendors.

"The Russian authorities' seizure of Google Russia's bank account has made it untenable for our Russia office to function ... Therefore, Google Russia has filed for bankruptcy," a company spokesperson said.

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"People in Russia rely on our services... and we'll continue to keep free services such as Search, YouTube, Gmail, Maps, Android, and Play available."

Russia has restricted access to Twitter and Meta's flagship social networks, Facebook and Instagram.

Google and its YouTube video hosting service, though under pressure, remain available for now. Moscow in particular objects to YouTube's treatment of Russian media, which it has blocked.

Google Fined $260,000 by Russian Court for Breaching Data Rules

But Anton Gorelkin, deputy head of the State Duma committee on information policy, said the U.S. company was not yet at risk of being blocked.

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