The music streaming platform Spotify has suspended services in Russia.
A company spokesperson said that while it was important to “try to keep our service operational in Russia to provide trusted, independent news and information in the region”, the impact of new legislation “further restricting access to information, eliminating free expression, and criminalising certain types of news puts the safety of Spotify’s employees and possibly even our listeners at risk”.
They added: “After carefully considering our options and the current circumstances, we have come to the difficult decision to fully suspend our service in Russia.”
Spotify follows a long line of western companies – including Apple, H&M, Mastercard, Netflix, Unilever, Visa and more – to suspend or exit operations in Russia since the war in Ukraine began.
