Russia Seizes Over $100 Million from Google

Russian authorities have seized over $100 million from Google's bank accounts to finance propaganda efforts supporting Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine, according to recent court documents. This action followed a Moscow court's ruling that Google was to pay damages to pro-Kremlin media outlets RT and Tsargrad TV, which received funds from the seizure to aid in the war. The seizure, which forced Google's Russian subsidiary into bankruptcy in 2022, occurred while the amount owing was reportedly less than $12.5 million. Google has since filed lawsuits in the U.S. and U.K. against these media channels to prevent them from accessing its assets in foreign jurisdictions. The Kremlin's bailiffs prioritized payments to the broadcasters over other creditors, raising concerns over the legality of the seizure process. Google aims to block the Russian broadcasters from enforcing their claims internationally, as the legal battle continues to unfold globally.