There are alternative search engines to Google, in particular some where base censorship is not so easily enforced:
Of course Sci Hub was developed by a Russian, which is probably why Yandex is not censoring it. Also, I don't think the Russian government cares much for intellectual property rights of companies in NATO countries, for obvious reasons. But they are definitely censoring a wide range of other topics.
Check this reports for some details on the types of things that Yandex censors: https://www.hrw.org/report/2025/07/30/disrupted-throttled-an...
In the same way it has become obvious that you should not use Google if you are looking for something that is against the interests of American oligarchs.
Russia is an oppressive and dangerous regime, sure, but in 2025, there's nothing particularly special about it on human rights and censorship.
In the context of Western censorship of a global resource, Yandex makes a load of sense.
Its about unchecked corruption, abuse, and the misuse of power. It's a mistake to believe such things are only done by "them" in a different country.
What users or readers might perceive as popular or best, may not be, because of manipulation. Most would have no idea of the situation, unless stumbling upon it or exposed, and many could care less even if aware. If they make too much of a direct fuss about it, their account or even the person might cease functioning. Users will not usually even know the totality of what's banned, vice versa, nor know what's promoted by hand or via algorithm.
Which isn't to say Russia is a bastion of free speech, it's not, you still can't go hold an LGBTQIA2s+ pride parade or publicly march demanding you be given the right to hold the parade in the future without being thrown in prison, but they're a poor case study for authoritarianism when the west is rapidly turning more authoritarian than Russia is, while Russia hasn't really changed much in that regard in the last quarter century or so.
If you think the West is becoming more authoritarian than Russia, you're either misinformed or lying.
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/12/10/first-russian-fine...
Hope that clarifies it for you.
If it's also going to be against Russia, it would be great.
>"found Glukhikh guilty and imposed a fine of 3,000 rubles ($38)."
"Glukhikh, who did not attend his sentencing hearing, has denied his guilt."
And also:
"FSB officer noticed Glukhikh searching for extremist content while riding next to him on the bus"
That is, an employee of the services saw a search for a banned organization engaged in the murder of Russians and the Russian-speaking population of Ukraine and reported it.
You must admit that this is not the same as just looking for information on Yandex.
And the parental comment refers specifically to the Yandex search, and not to isolated cases when an FSB agent suddenly stands behind you.
Keep in mind that millions of Russians search for information about VPN and the rest every day, openly discuss it on social networks and do not receive any punishment for it.> You must admit that this is not the same as just looking for information on Yandex.
I must do no such thing. The other week I searched for the fascist Ivan Ilyin because I wanted to see what kind of ideas Putin built his ideology on. I've also read about the Russian Nazi paramilitary unit Rusich Group, responsible for the murder of Ukrainians. I've googled Maria Lvova-Belova, wanted by the International Criminal Court for kidnapping children. Do you think I should have been arrested for those?
I'm happy you guys can still search for VPNs, enjoy it while you can. Truly the pinnacle of democracy.
Unfortunately, from your next comment (you've collected a whole bingo there) I realized that I might have wasted my time on you.
This level of concern is corrected only if you want it yourself, no one from the outside can help you.
My statement that you can safely search for the necessary information on Yandex remains valid.
It's crazy that you think there's only one search engine in the US.
Try this one: https://www.bing.com/search?q=sci-hub
mirror: https://archive.ph/GTnS3
https://hackread.com/fbi-wants-to-know-who-runs-archive-ph
Today is not my day.
..and of those, I really wouldn't be giving the one under the direct control of Russia's FSB as my top recommendation.
A little-known American search engine known as Bing[1] lists Sci-Hub just fine though.