MOSCOW, April 9. /TASS/. Russia’s telecom watchdog (Roskomnadzor) has demanded that Google lift restrictions on the YouTube channel of the Russian State Duma (the lower house of parliament) and explain the reason behind them, the watchdog said in a statement on Saturday.

"Roskomnadzor has demanded that the US-based Google LLC, the owner of the YouTube service, immediately restore access to the Russian State Duma’s ‘Duma TV’ YouTube channel and explain the reason for such restrictions," the statement reads.

The blocking of the Russian government body’s YouTube channel impedes the free flow of information, the watchdog added.

Earlier reports said that Google had blocked the Duma TV YouTube account.