Kremlin spokesman says fining Google $2.5 trillion trillion trillion for blocking Russian propaganda is a ‘symbolic’ measure

Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday that a Russian court’s recent decision to fine Google roughly $2.5 trillion trillion trillion (more money than the entire world's GDP) was an exercise in “symbolism.” According to Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, “These demands highlight the essence of our [Russian YouTube] channels’ complaints against Google. Google shouldn’t restrict the activities of our broadcasters on its platform, yet it continues to do so.”

Peskov said the nonsensical sum of money was designed to draw attention to Russia’s grievances and “rectify the situation.”

Russia’s legal actions against Google are based on the tech giant’s refusal to reinstate the YouTube channels of several propaganda outlets, including Channel One, VGTRK, NTV, the Defense Ministry’s Zvezda channel, and Russia Today editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan’s channel. YouTube has also taken action against the right-wing Tsargrad TV and Prigozhin-created RIA FAN. After the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Google blocked the channels of Sputnik, NTV, Rossiya 24, RT, and other Russian propaganda groups. In June 2022, Google’s Russian legal entity filed for bankruptcy — a status finally formalized in November 2023.