Roskomnadzor is demanding that Google remove liquor stores from its maps

Roskomnadzor has begun demanding that Google remove liquor stores and reviews of them from its map service in Russia.

According to the Lumen database, the agency has sent at least 436 such requests since June 2024.

The requests stated that the stores’ pages or reviews had been added to the list of banned resources following decisions by Russian courts—specifically due to information about the online sale of alcohol, which is prohibited by Russian law.

As of now, at least 124 stores have disappeared from Google Maps—the corresponding links lead to blank pages.

At the same time, it is unclear whether the removal was carried out by the company itself or by the store owners.

In some cases, Roskomnadzor demanded the removal of stores that had already closed or sent repeated requests regarding the same locations. Requests regarding liquor stores account for over 95% of all requests the agency has sent to Google Maps.

Roskomnadzor demanded the removal of posts claiming that the agency is failing to block internet resources.

Internet access disappeared in the Russian State Duma building amid widespread network restrictions in Moscow.