Match Group Turns Things From Russian Market To Protect Human Rights

Tinder, finally chose to leave Russia. (photo: dock. pexels)

JAKARTA - The owner of dating app Tinder, Match Group, announced that it will leave the Russian market on June 30, 2023. This decision was taken to protect human rights and taken after many Western companies left Russia since Moscow sent troops to Ukraine last year.

"We are committed to protecting human rights. Our brands are taking steps to limit access to their services in Russia and will complete their withdrawal from the Russian market on June 30, 2023," Match said.

Many digital service providers with few staff in Russia, such as Spotify and Netflix, left the market after Moscow started a military campaign in Ukraine in February 2022.

Match, which has several dating app brands such as Tinder, Hinge, and PlentyOfFish, has made few public statements about its operations in Russia, but in March 2022 informed about the negative impact on their European business.

Friends Fiduciary Corp, Match's shareholder, said Match had set an example for others by linking its decision to the human rights risks faced by the Ukrainian people.

European police agency Europol said in September 2022 dating apps were among "controlled" online platforms by individuals for human trafficking purposes, drawing attention to the fate of Ukrainian refugees.

Jeff feasibility, Executive Director of Friends Fiduciary, said that trust-dependent businesses have good reason to leave Russia. "This is not a good sight for trusted brands to continue operating in a country where heads of state have been indicted by the International Criminal Court," he said.

On March 17, the ICC issued an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin, who accused him of committing war crimes by illegally deporting hundreds of children from Ukraine.

Moscow denies committing war crimes, including forced deportation of children, and says that the ICC decision has no meaning because Russia is not a member of the ICC.