GitHub to not ban Russian developers despite calls to cut country from platform

Some members of the GitHub community have been asking to ban Russian users for a week now. The platform, however, has decided to not restrict any developers, adding that it will still continue to examine government mandates. 

“GitHub’s vision is to be the home for all developers, no matter where they reside,” the platform said in a statement.

The company also noted that it takes its obligation with respect to government mandates, including restricting “Russia’s access to technologies and other items needed to sustain its aggressive military capabilities.”

GitHub said it won’t ban users and impact them beyond the scope of these mandates: “This includes protecting open collaboration and the free flow of information in our interconnected community to support communications, humanitarian work, and organizing for change.”

This doesn’t mean that GitHub won’t change its decision in the future. The company, which is now owned by Microsoft, has already imposed restrictions on developers from Crimea in 2019, blocking private repos and paid accounts. The same sanctions were also applied to Iran, North Korea, Syria, and Cuba.