Latvia Fully Blocks Yandex and Its Services

The National Electronic Mass Media Council of Latvia (NEPLP) has decided to block access to all websites associated with the Russian IT giant Yandex, including the streaming service Yandex.Music. The decision was announced by NEPLP chairman Ivars Āboliņš. The main reason for the block is that Yandex.Music hosts podcasts by individuals who are under European Union sanctions.

This move is part of Latvia’s ongoing policy toward Russian internet services. In March 2022, Latvia revoked the license of Yandex Taxi B.V. and blocked the Yandex Go app, citing concerns that the app exchanges data with servers located in Russia. This could potentially lead to the transfer of data about Latvian residents and foreign citizens using the app to Russian intelligence services.

In April 2022, NEPLP also restricted access to the yandex.ru website and its mirrors, referencing the spread of “distorted and false information” about world events on the site’s main page. In response to these accusations, Yandex stated that its website operates as a search engine and does not create or distribute any content.

Yandex has appealed NEPLP’s decision to the Administrative District Court, which will review the case in writing on February 29, 2024.