Kremlin calls YouTube's deletion of RT TV's German channels illegal censorship

The Kremlin on Wednesday called a decision by Alphabet Inc.'s YouTube to delete Russian state-backed broadcaster RT's German-language channels a breach of Russian law and censorship.

YouTube said on Tuesday that RT's channels had breached its COVID misinformation policy, a move Russia's Foreign Ministry described as "unprecedented information aggression" in a statement late on Wednesday.

State communications regulator Roskomnadzor said on Wednesday it had written to Google and demanded that the restrictions be lifted and warned that Russia could seek to partially or fully restrict access to YouTube if it failed to comply.