iTunes complies with Russian censors, removes ‘extremist’ songs by two bands

Apple's music service iTunes has deleted songs by the groups Korroziya Metalla (Corrosion) and Tsiklon-B (Cyclon-B), which Russian courts previously recognized as extremist, according to a press release by Roskomnadzor, the Russia's government's media watchdog agency.

On October 26, Russian censors blocked several pages of iTunes that contained music by these two bands. By removing the songs, Apple has complied with Roskomnadzor's takedown order.

On Facebook, where it announced iTunes' compliance, Roskomnadzor posted a celebratory image from the 1989 action film Kickboxer, featuring Jean-Claude Van Damme dancing. 

Russia's federal list of extremist materials, which is maintained by the Justice Ministry, includes six songs by Corrosion, as well as music by the bands Skinhead, Bei Chertei (Kill the Devils), and Niger. More than 20 songs by Cyclon-B have been blacklisted as extremist.