Russian communications agency Roskomnadzor has reportedly asked Google to clarify a statement from Alphabet executive chairman Eric Schmidt, who suggested the search engine would downrank results from government-funded media outlets RT and Sputnik.

Agency head Alexander Zharov told the Interfax news service that his office sent a letter requesting more detail about comments Schmidt made to an audience at the Halifax International Security Forum, Reuters writes. “We will receive an answer and understand what to do next,” Zhorov said, according to Interfax. “We hope our opinion will be heard, and we won’t have to resort to more serious” retaliation.

Schmidt was responding to an audience member who mentioned Sputnik’s prominence in Google…

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