Spotify has removed the songs and profiles of Russian artists who have been sanctioned by the EU over their support of the invasion of Ukraine.
According to The Moscow Times, artists impacted by the decision include the band Lyube and singers Grigory Leps, Oleg Gazmanov, Polina Gagarina, and Shaman. The first three artists have been under EU sanctions since the invasion launched in 2022, while Shaman and Gagarina were sanctioned just last week.
“Platform Rules clearly state that we take action when we identify content which explicitly violates our content policies or local laws,” Spotify said in a statement. “Upon review, these artists met the threshold for removal.”
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The EU’s latest sanctions package alleges Shaman “repeatedly participated in Kremlin-organized concerts, including the Kremlin’s anniversary event for that war, and given concerts in the illegally occupied regions of Ukraine.”
Meanwhile, Gagarina is purported to have generated “significant revenue” from state-sponsored events celebrating the annexation of Crimea and other Ukrainian regions under Russian control.
Back in 2018, Spotify implemented a controversial hate content policy which was reversed a few weeks later after artists like Kendrick Lamar reportedly expressed concern that it unfairly targeted people of color.
Spotify fully suspended service in Russia following the invasion of Ukraine in March 2022.