YouTube bans channel from Russian Orthodox Church

Spas had over 1 million subscribers on YouTube when the Google company blocked the channel earlier this week. According to the Orthodox news website Ortho Christian, the reasons YouTube did that are unclear.

Roskomnadzor, Russia's Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media, demands that Google removes the restrictions imposed on the YouTube channel of the Orthodox Spas TV channel as soon as possible, and also explain the reasons for their introduction. "Such actions of the YouTube administration violate the key principles of the free dissemination of information and unhindered access to it", Roskomnadzor said. "The agency considers any restrictions on any Russian media unacceptable, and especially those that contribute to the formation of a worldview based on Orthodox values, the development and strengthening of the spiritual and moral foundations of the Russian state."

Earlier, YouTube announced that it would block worldwide channels associated with Russian state-funded media in a reaction to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Domestic

According to the Russian press agency Interfax, Spas is now moving to Rutube. "All new issues are published on this site. We also upload our archive to the channel so that everyone can find any issue of their favourite program at any time. Are there more and more releases from the archive every day, and soon, all the premieres released on Spas for many years will be available to everyone."

Besides the move to Rutube, the state-funded channel is also developing its social media accounts on domestic social networks. According to Interfax, new releases of programs are also being published on VKontakte, Telegram, and the Odnoklassniki social network.

State

Spas started broadcasting in 2005. The main owner of the channel is the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church. The channel's mission is a form of moral philosophy and a system of coordinates needed for the effective development of the state, based on Orthodox values and the development and strengthening of spiritual and moral foundations of the Russian state.