The International Olympics Committee requested that sports organizations around the world ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing.
Organizations around the world are also taking action against Russia. Hotel group Accor and food company Mars are among the few multinational companies that are still doing business in Russia (Read more here). Companies that continue to operate in the country face challenges including limited payment services, logistical challenges and a weak ruble.īut Spotify's decision is based more on the country's recent crackdown on news and other media that could shine a negative light on the Russian war.Oil giant BP divested a roughly 20% stake in Russian oil company Rosneft February 27, and announced the immediate resignation of two BP-nominated Rosneft board members, with BP chair Helge Lund calling Russia’s attack on Ukraine an “act of aggression” and saying BP’s “involvement with Rosneft, a state-owned enterprise, simply cannot continue.” Tangent Several banks and retail brands such as McDonald's and Starbucks have also stopped operating in the country after it invaded Ukraine last month. Other tech firms including Apple and Google have pulled back and stopped offering products and services in Russia. 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," a Spotify spokesperson said in a statement. "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. It said earlier this month that it would close an office in the country and removed Russian state media content.
Spotify previously stopped offering Premium subscriptions in Russia, but its free service was still available. Spotify is best known as a music streamer, but it also hosts and distributes a range of podcasts with political content.
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