Facebook, Google Defy Order, Distribute Russian Political Ads On Election Day

Russian state media watchdog Roskomnadzor alleged Sunday that Google and Facebook allowed political ads related to the country’s regional elections to appear despite earlier orders to ban such material.

The companies did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment on the matter.

“Such actions can be seen as interference in Russia’s sovereign affairs and hindering the conduct of democratic elections in the Russian Federation,” Roskomnadzor said on its website.

Russian officials had previously asked the companies to avoid publicizing political ads on the day of the elections. This order was in line with Russian law.

According to Engadget, Google agreed to remove the ads and said that it honors Russian laws.

Russia’s recent round of regional elections have been the subject of intense scrutiny and controversy. Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in July to protest opposition candidates being kept off ballots in local Moscow elections.

Opposition leader and staunch Putin critic Alexei Navalny was jailed for urging these protests, and during his 30-day sentence suffered a mysterious allergic reaction that caused severe swelling and rashes. Navalny survived but intrigue still abounded given the circumstances surrounding the event.

Navalny’s doctor insisted that he must have been subjected to a toxic agent, given his lack of past allergic reactions to anything.