A Russian propaganda channel is trying to use South African law to enforce a massive fine awarded against Google in a Russian court. (Eduardo MunozAlvarez/VIEWpress/Getty)
A Russian media outlet that uses religious messaging to spread propaganda about the Ukrainian invasion has attached the shares and trademarks of Google SA ahead of its attempt to use local courts to act against the tech giant.
South Africa has almost nothing to do with the matter, but through a strange turn of events, No Fond Pravoslavnogo Televideniya (NFPT), which translates from Russian to The Foundation for Orthodox Television, is trying to reclaim a debt from Google’s international business through local courts.
The Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg awarded a court order to the media group that approved the attachment of Google shares and trademarks in South Africa until litigation over the main dispute with the tech giant has been finalised. The attachment motion was brought ex parte, meaning that Google did not have an opportunity to respond to the claim.Â
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