Amazon-owned streaming giant, Twitch, has banned 15 accounts after they streamed a Counter-Strike 2 tournament being held in a Russian college, violating EU sanctions imposed against Alabuga Polytech following the ongoing conflict with Russia.
According to the report, the banned accounts were directly streaming the Counter Strike 2 tournament held in Alabuga Polytech, an institution that has drawn scrutiny due to alleged links with Russia’s war against Ukraine. Reports suggest that the college falls under EU sanctions, which is what prompted Twitch to enforce the ban to comply with geopolitical regulations and digital safety standards.
Students from Alabuga Polytech are reportedly being recruited to assemble Iranian Shahed attack drones under a Russian military division, Geranium-2. While the event in itself had nothing to do with the ongoing conflict, Twitch is under severe pressure from the supervising bodies to comply, which has sparked a debate in the online forums regarding the scope of these sanctions.
The move signals Twitch’s commitment to enforcing the community guidelines and complying with international regulations. Reports hint at 30 days for the 15 accounts in question. However, Twitch has yet to officially cite the reason for the suspension.
Not only does this move weaken the backbone of the Russian gaming industry, but moving forward, players in the lower leagues will be unable to showcase their talent on the world’s stage, especially with a risk of sanctions hanging over their heads. At the same time, tournament organizers will also start to distance themselves from hosting events, fearing strict action against them.
