Wed Oct 30 16:19:45 UTC 2024: ## Google Hit with Astronomical Fine in Russia for Blocking Pro-Kremlin Media

**Moscow, Russia** – Google has been slapped with a staggering 2 undecillion rubles (approximately $2.5 decillion) in fines by Russian courts, according to a report by RBC news website. The fines stem from Google’s refusal to reinstate the YouTube accounts of pro-Kremlin and state-run media outlets, which were blocked for their support of the invasion of Ukraine.

The fines began accumulating in 2020, after outlets such as Tsargrad and RIA FAN won lawsuits against Google for blocking their channels. Initial penalties of 100,000 rubles per day have doubled each week, reaching the current astronomical sum. An undecillion is a 1 followed by 36 zeros, making this fine virtually impossible for Google to ever pay.

A total of 17 Russian TV channels, including the state-run Channel One and the military-affiliated Zvezda broadcaster, have filed claims against Google. This includes a lawsuit filed on behalf of RT editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan.

While the Kremlin has retaliated against Google with these fines, it has stopped short of blocking YouTube in Russia. Google’s Russian subsidiary filed for bankruptcy in 2022, and Alphabet Inc. halted advertising in Russia in compliance with Western sanctions imposed over the war in Ukraine.

This latest development further highlights the strained relationship between Russia and Western tech companies. The fines serve as a clear message from the Kremlin that it will not tolerate any attempt to restrict pro-government media narratives.

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