Internet registrar RIPE gave companies from Russia a deferral of payments

The international organization that distributes IP addresses has allowed Russian companies under sanctions to defer payment for their resources.Prior to that, she also refused to deprive companies from RUSSIA of IP addresses, contrary to the fears of the authorities.

The international Internet registrar RIPE NCC allowed Russian companies that fell under sanctions to defer payment for Internet resources. This follows from a letter that the organization sent out to owners of IP addresses (a unique multi-digit identifier that every device needs to access the Internet) in Russia on Monday, March 14. RBC has a copy of the letter, its sending was confirmed by Maxim Burtikov, DIRECTOR of External Relations of RIPE NCC in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

“We understand that sanctions and other related factors may prevent some of you from making payments to us. Please do not worry about your membership if this is the case: you do not risk losing your membership, or your IP addresses, or autonomous system numbers (autonomous system number, ASN, on which the stability of the Internet space depends. -), if you cannot pay bills within the time limits set for this, ”the RIPE NCC letter says. it notes that companies still "remain an obligation to pay," but if "sanction-related factors prevent payment of bills," then the RIPE NCC will not terminate the Standard Service Agreement (SSA).

The international Internet registrar pointed to a decrease in the connectivity of Runet Technology and media

RIPE NCC is one of the five global Internet registries that distributes IP addresses and ASNs in Russia, Europe and the Middle East. Those who wish can receive Internet resources both directly from the RIPE NCC and through the LIR (local Internet registrar that receives pools of IP addresses and assigns them to its clients). Typically LIRs are ISPs, telecommunications companies, large enterprises, and academic institutions. To receive Internet resources directly from the RIPE NCC, you need to become a member of the organization by entering into a service agreement and paying an annual fee. As indicated on the RIPE NCC website, for 2022 its amount is € 1.4 thousand. There are three payment methods: by bank transfer, credit or debit card, and also through the American payment system PAYPAL.

Membership in the organization entitles you to participate in RIPE NCC internal discussions, access the RIPE Atlas measurement platform and training tools. But due to the sanctions imposed on Russia, some payment methods are limited for Russians. For example, the international payment systems Visa and Mastercard have decided to suspend work in Russia due to operations in Ukraine. “In addition, companies that were serviced by sanctioned banks may have problems with payment,” said Pen & Paper lawyer Kira Vinokurova. - They cannot transfer money abroad in foreign currency, as this payment will be blocked by a foreign correspondent bank. The same effect will occur if the sender of the payment is a person under blocking sanctions.” Formerly usaimposed sanctions against banks VTB, Otkritie, Sovcombank, Novikombank, Promsvyazbank. As Pen & Paper’s lawyer notes, “self-sanctions” can become another barrier, when “foreign counterparties or banks and other financial intermediaries, despite the absence of sanctions prohibitions, at their own discretion, reject a payment from any Russian person or person from Russian jurisdiction.”