The difference is that a DMCA request is a takedown request, not a block request, so to legally comply with the DMCA you have to stop hosting the file. The Russians in this case don't have legal jurisdiction to demand that github removes the file, all they can do is ask nicely that github blocks them. Had the files been hosted within Russia then no doubt they would have the legal jurisdiction to demand they be taken down.

Probably because they are incorporated in the US and could be drug into court here more easily than Russia. I also heard the EU calling for Google to break up but I doubt that will happen.

Did this have to do with some kind of censorship or was it copyright related?

Probably because GitHub is based in the US.

I'm pretty sure that if you send a take-down notice alleging copyright infringement from another country, material in question is blocked for everyone, too.

Odd? Image you're a Github. There are thousands of paying accounts in Russia and also a zillion Russians contributing to open-source projects.

Now imagine all these people now have no access and start sending emails asking why their paid accounts now aren't working? Russian devs working on tight schedule, forereigners working in Russia, subs doing contracts for american companies - now all of them are DENIED.

Would it really be better for github to continue blocking all those innocent people because of a clearly a set-up type suicide-notes post?