“We believe that making TASS content available on Reuters Connect is inconsistent with Thomson Reuters’ principles of trust,” Reuters acting chief executive Matthew Keen wrote in an internal memo to staff on Wednesday.

The Reuters Principles of Trust, created in 1941 in the midst of World War II, commit Reuters to act with integrity, independence and impartiality.

TASS declined to comment immediately.

The Russian news agency has been accused by some Western media and press freedom groups of spreading false statements and propaganda about the war in Ukraine.

Since the invasion, tech giants Google, Facebook and Twitter, as well as pay-TV services, have restricted access to Russian state media RT and Sputnik over fears of spreading disinformation.

RT and Sputnik called the restrictions imposed by distributors, including app stores and other social media services, unwarranted censorship.

In early March, the Getty Images photo agency severed ties with TASS, Forbes reported. The report quotes a Getty spokesperson saying that “to ensure the integrity of the content we distribute, we require partners and contributors to comply with it.” The Forbes story said TASS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Reuters Connect allowed users, primarily news outlets, to access and share TASS content for a fee. Reuters Connect also offers content from Reuters News and some 90 third-party providers, such as Variety, USA today Yes CNBC.

Reuters Newsroom operates independently of Reuters Connect.

Since the invasion, the association has drawn strong criticism on social networks. A March 20 Politico article quoted anonymous Reuters reporters as saying they were embarrassed by the company’s association with TASS.

Reuters is owned by the Thomson Reuters Corp news and information company.