Spotify music streaming platform has suspended services in Russia. This was stated by a spokesman for the Guardian, explaining that although it was important “to try to keep our service operational in Russia to provide reliable and independent news and information in the region”, the impact of the new legislation, “further limiting access to information, eliminating freedom of expression and criminalizing certain types of news, puts the safety of Spotify employees and perhaps even our listeners at risk. “
“After carefully considering our options and current circumstances, we have come to the difficult decision to completely suspend our service in Russia,” he added. Spotify follows a long line of Western companies – including Apple, H&M, Mastercard, Netflix, Unilever, Visa and others – that have suspended operations in Russia since the start of the war in Ukraine.