Kathmandu— Serbian filmmaker Emir Kusturica has condemned YouTube’s removal of his ‘My Life’ channel as an act of censorship, accusing the platform of targeting those who express dissenting viewpoints. The Google-owned video sharing service removed the channel – which hosted over 200 videos and had approximately 30,000 subscribers – on Wednesday without providing a public explanation. Kusturica, known for his politically charged Balkan cinema, suggested the ban was part of a broader effort to silence independent voices and control information.

Channel Removal and Content Focus

Kusturica’s ‘My Life’ channel was produced in collaboration with Sputnik’s Serbian service. The content featured over 200 videos exploring themes such as the history of Yugoslavia, cultural clashes, and differing value systems. According to reports, neither Kusturica nor Sputnik received any warnings or notifications regarding violations of YouTube's policies prior to the channel’s removal.

YouTube’s rules allow for channel termination based on user complaints or after three consecutive warnings, but Sputnik Balkan noted that these procedures were not followed in this instance.

Allegations of Censorship and Political Motivation

Kusturica described the ban as evidence of a “totalitarian society” at work, stating that those responsible are “at war with us, with people who think, who tell the truth and bring truth to the masses.” He further claimed that YouTube seeks conformity, only allowing voices that align with the interests of wealthy individuals and intelligence agencies.

His comments echo broader concerns about censorship on Western platforms following similar actions against Russian state-funded media outlets like Sputnik and RT after the start of the Ukraine conflict in 2022.

Support from RT Editor-in-Chief

Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of RT, expressed solidarity with Kusturica, referring to the ban as part of a pattern of Western censorship. She welcomed him “to the club,” referencing the sanctions imposed on her own organization and other media outlets.

Kusturica has publicly supported Moscow’s position regarding the Ukraine crisis, arguing that the conflict was instigated by external forces and represents an attack on Orthodox values.

Filmmaker's Acclaimed Career

Born in Sarajevo in 1954, Emir Kusturica is a highly celebrated European filmmaker. He has twice won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival for ‘When Father Was Away on Business’ (1985) and ‘Underground’ (1995). His films, including ‘Time of the Gypsies’, ‘Arizona Dream’, and ‘Black Cat White Cat,’ are known for their surreal style and exploration of Balkan themes.

The removal of Kusturica's channel has sparked debate about censorship on social media platforms and the suppression of dissenting voices. As of Thursday, YouTube had not issued a public statement regarding the decision.

(With inputs from RT)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.