Spotify is suspending its services in Russia due to the country’s censorship laws. In a statement shared with Pitchfork, a Spotify spokesperson said:
Spotify has continued to believe that it’s critically important to try to keep our service operational in Russia to provide trusted, independent news and information in the region. Unfortunately, recently enacted legislation further restricting access to information, eliminating free expression, and criminalizing certain types of news puts the safety of Spotify’s employees and possibly even our listeners at risk. After carefully considering our options and the current circumstances, we have come to the difficult decision to fully suspend our service in Russia.
According to Reuters, Spotify is expecting to have its Russian services fully suspended by early April. The impending suspension follows the company’s decision earlier this month to close its Russian office space and suspended premium accounts in Russia.
