Russian-backed separatists in a breakaway area of japanese Ukraine have blocked entry to the search engine Google, their chief mentioned on Friday, citing what he calls “disinformation”.

In a message posted on his Telegram channel, Denis Pushilin, head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), accused Google of selling “violence against all Russians” and mentioned that its “handlers from the US government” had been in charge.

“If Google stops pursuing its criminal policy and returns to the mainstream of law, morality and common sense, there will be no obstacles to its work,” he mentioned. He didn’t present proof to assist his assertions.

Google didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

Since sending troops into Ukraine on February 24, Russia and its proxies in japanese Ukraine have accused Western firms of spreading anti-Russian propaganda and taking a one-sided stance on the battle.

Russia banned Facebook and Instagram in March after a courtroom discovered Facebook-owner Meta responsible of “extremist activity”. Moscow had already curbed entry to Facebook for limiting Russian media retailers’ entry to the platform.

The DPR and separate Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR) adopted swimsuit in blocking Facebook and Instagram, aligning themselves with Russia’s coverage on the US-based social networks.

Earlier this week, a Moscow courtroom fined Google RUB 21 billion (practically Rs. 2,900 crore) for failing to take away content material regarding Russia’s army intervention in Ukraine, the nation’s telecommunications regulator mentioned Monday.

Regulator Roskomnadzor mentioned the Google-owned video platform YouTube had failed to dam “false information” on the offensive in Ukraine, “extremist and terrorist propaganda” and content material “calling on minors to participate in unauthorised demonstrations.”

The regulator mentioned that as this was a repeat conviction for Google, the superb was based mostly on its annual income in Russia.

© Thomson Reuters 2022