Kremlin May Pursue Google if Russian News Sites Ranked Lower

The Kremlin will take action against Alphabet Inc.’s Google if articles from Russian news websites Sputnik and Russia Today are placed lower in search results, the Interfax news service cited Russia’s chief media regulator as saying. Alexander Zharov, head of media regulator Roskomnadzor, said his agency sent a letter to Google requesting clarification on comments Saturday by Alphabet Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt about how the Russian websites would be treated in search, according to Interfax.