MOSCOW, January 19. /TASS/. The Russian Ministry of Digital Development maintains its position that there is no need to block YouTube video hosting in Russia, Minister Maksut Shadaev told reporters.

"The position of the Ministry of Digital Development on the YouTube blocking has not changed," Shadaev said. The Minister made repeated statements earlier that no plans to block operations of the video hosting service in Russia were in place.

Gazprom Media CEO Alexander Zharov said earlier that the issue of YouTube blocking could be considered in case of systemic and conscious violations of Russian laws by the video platform.