YouTube has blocked the 'Russian Community' channel following a BBC…
YouTube has blocked the 'Russian Community' channel following a BBC investigation. The platform removed both the main channel of the far-right movement (over 1 million subscribers) and its backup channel (around 50 thousand subscribers), said Andrey Tkachuk, coordinator of the 'Russian Community'.
Consensus
- YouTube removed the main channel of 'Rusская община' with around 1.2 million subscribers.
- The removal was justified by YouTube based on its policy prohibiting advertising for extremist and criminal groups.
- Andrey Tkachuk, a coordinator of 'Rusская община', claimed the organization is not recognized as extremist in Russia and denied being a criminal or extremist entity.
- The organization has conducted anti-migrant raids in coordination with law enforcement and promotes traditional and Orthodox values.
- The organization attempted to appeal the decision, citing lack of legal recognition as extremist in Russia.
- The channel had been in a 'shadow ban' on YouTube for about two years prior to the removal.
Points of divergence
- YouTube removed the main channel and also blocked another channel, though the second channel is not specified. — tg_echoonline_news
- The main channel had more than 1 million subscribers, and the organization claims it is a 'community of volunteers'. — tg_radiosvoboda
- The organization claims it was blocked after YouTube's 'uncompromising' stance against 'Rusская общи́на', and that the movement's goal is to 'make the Russian person Russian again'. — fontanka
- The organization is described as an 'ultra-right nationalist organization' known for raids against migrants and using violence. — tg_theinsider
- The organization has been linked to multiple criminal cases, including assault, kidnapping, and extortion, and has been involved in violent actions against migrants and LGBTQ+ individuals. — mediazona
- The organization may have been created under the supervision of the FSB. — meduza
- The removal followed a BBC Russian Service investigation into the organization, and the main channel had been in a 'shadow ban' since the publication of that report. — tg_bbcrussian
Coverage (13 sources)
- «Anglo-Saxons who hate Russia want to strangle the Russian people»: YouTube deleted the «Russian Community» channel with 1.2 million subscribers — ЭХО / Новости
- Video hosting service YouTube deleted two channels of the organization "Russian Community". — Радио Свобода
- «And that's all...» YouTube blocked the channel of the «Russian Community» with 1.22 million subscribers — Фонтанка
- YouTube deleted the channel of nationalist organization "Russian Community" — The Insider
- YouTube deemed activity of 'Russian Community' extremist and deleted movement channel with 1.2 million subscribers — Медиазона
- On YouTube blocked the channel of the nationalist union 'Russian Community' — Meduza
- YouTube deleted the channel «Russian Community» — Дождь
- YouTube blocked the channel of the Russian Community after a BBC investigation — BBC News Русская служба
- YouTube deleted the channel «Russian Community» — Дождь (Telegram)
- YouTube deleted the channel of the Russian Community with 1 million subscribers — ASTRA
- YouTube blocked the channel «Russian Community» — Коммерсантъ
- YouTube deleted the "Russian Community" channel, its coordinator Andrey Tkachuk reported: — Varlamov News
- YouTube deleted channel of ultrarightist «Russian Community» with 1.2 million subscribers — Новая газета Европа