Google is no longer available in Russia after the country's communications regulator “failed to pay its latest $53m fee”

Google is to shut down its Russian subsidiary after its bank account was frozen and its local office looted.<br><br>Yesterday, it was reported that the Russian government had frozen Google Russia’s bank account, effectively shutting down operations.<br><br>Google is to shut down its Russian subsidiary after its bank account was frozen and its local office looted.<br><br>Yesterday, it was reported that the Russian government had frozen Google Russia’s bank account, effectively shutting down operations.<br><br>Typically, the decision would have little impact on users as Google is an American business and Google.ru is just a “regional unit”, but the news has taken on more significance as the Russian government is reportedly seizing the company’s assets.<br><br>According to a statement reportedly seen by Reuters, the corporation's Russian assets are being seized as part of a bankruptcy case against Google Russia.<br><br>Russia Today reports that: “The assets of the Russian Google division will be transferred to the Russian Federal Agency for State Property Management (Rosimushchestvo), from which they will be distributed to pay off debts incurred during the activities of the division in Russia.”<br><br>Earlier this week, the Russian government blocked Google News after the company refused to remove a story on sanctions imposed on Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.<br><br>A court ruling released in March said that Google had until 26 May to remove the story.<br><br>The claim, brought by the Russian state-run media outlet RIA Novosti, said that the news aggregator contained “banned materials that were created and (or) distributed by foreign structures recognized in Russia as undesirable”.<br><br>According to The Moscow Times, the company has “failed to pay its latest $53m fee for the rental of its .RU domain, which is essential for the functioning of Google’s Russia-based services.”<br><br>The publication suggested that Google’s decision will not necessarily spell the end of Google in Russia, but it is likely to have a significant impact on Russian firms that use Google cloud services and other products.