Spotify share in red: Even the free version of Spotify is no longer available in Russia

The reason is the new laws, which made the dissemination of alleged false information about Russian armed forces a punishable offence, a spokesman told the Bloomberg financial service on Friday. That means a risk not only for Spotify employees, but “possibly even our listeners,” it said.

The free part of Spotify not only includes a music service with advertising, but also a podcast platform. Spotify initially justified its stay in Russia despite the war in Ukraine by saying it was important to ensure access to independent news and information.

Spotify was largely unable to offer the paid subscription version of the music service because the major payment processors withdrew from Russia after the attack on Ukraine.

Spotify shares, listed on the NYSE, temporarily lost 2.87 percent to $144.98.

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