Russia fines Wikipedia owner for non-compliance with content rules

A Moscow court has fined the Wikimedia Foundation, the operator of the online encyclopedia Wikipedia, 3.5 million rubles (approximately $45,000) for failing to remove content deemed prohibited under Russian law.

The ruling was issued by the Tagansky District Court of Moscow on April 27, according to a statement published on the official Telegram channel of the city’s courts of general jurisdiction.

The foundation was found guilty under Part 2 of Article 13.41 of Russia’s Code of Administrative Offences, which concerns the refusal to delete restricted information. Authorities did not specify which materials were at issue in the case.

This is not the first such penalty against the organisation. In July 2025, the Wikimedia Foundation was fined under the same provision, with the court also imposing a 3.5 million ruble penalty.

By Tamilla Hasanova