The Moscow courts reported a notable legal decision involving rapper Yegor Creed, who challenged actions by the Russian Federal Tax Service and Roskomnadzor. The case originated in Moscow’s general jurisdiction court system and drew attention to the state agencies’ oversight of online activity and media channels.
The court session occurred on February 27, with the judge ruling that the closure of Creed’s Twitch channel was not legally justified. This decision underscored the court’s stance on channel suspensions and highlighted the importance of clear grounds for taking down online broadcasting channels connected to artists and public figures.
In February 2023, Ekaterina Mizulina, president of the Safer Internet League, alerted the Federal Antimonopoly Service and Roskomnadzor about what she described as illegal promotions for online casinos and bookmakers by a group of bloggers, including Creed. By May 2023, Creed initiated a civil action seeking protection of his honor, dignity, and business reputation, with the case undergoing merits review. A formal investigation was ordered, and subsequent hearings were postponed as the inquiry progressed.
During the proceedings, Creed asserted that one of Mizulina’s allegations about him crossed the line into offense and untruth. Additionally, the Moscow Zamoskvoretsky Court did not uphold Creed’s claim against Mizulina for one million rubles, leaving the financial request unresolved in this phase of the case.
Earlier statements from involved parties indicated a broader concern that some artist-related actions and media coverage might be driven by strategic aims rather than purely artistic or legal considerations. A representative connected with Creed’s team suggested that campaign narratives surrounding artists could be amplified or manipulated, potentially affecting public perception and market dynamics within the entertainment ecosystem.
Overall, the dispute reflects ongoing tensions between content moderation, media influence, and the rights of public figures in the online environment. The court’s February ruling on the Twitch channel closure marks a notable point in how digital platforms and state regulators interpret and apply existing rules to emerging technologies and online content, especially in cases involving high-profile artists and public discourse.