MOSCOW, Jan 14 (Reuters) - A Russian court fined

Alphabet's Google 8 billion roubles ($77.9 million) on

Tuesday for not complying with previous penalty orders, the

Moscow courts press service said on Telegram.

Russia has for several years ordered foreign technology

platforms to remove content it deems illegal, issuing small but

persistent fines when it sees failures to comply. Tuesday's fine

marked a significant increase on fines of around 4 million

roubles that are usually levied.

Google did not immediately respond to an emailed request for

comment.

The Chertanovo District Court in Moscow said Tuesday's

fine had been issued for Google's failure to comply with an

administrative punishment. It did not specify which

administrative offence the fine was in relation too.

YouTube has drawn particular ire for hosting content

Moscow objects to. The video platform used to attract around 50

million daily users in Russia, but those numbers have dropped to

around 12 million, according to Google data.

Critics accuse the Russian authorities of

deliberately disrupting

YouTube's download speeds to prevent Russians from viewing

content there that is opposed to President Vladimir Putin and

his government.

Russia denies that, saying the issues are caused by

Google's failure to upgrade equipment - a charge disputed by the

company and technology experts.

Putin in December

accused Google

of being a tool used by the U.S. government to score

political points.

($1 = 102.7000 roubles)