Russia wants to know why Apple removed Russian apps from the U.S. App Store

Following the removal of several apps developed by state-controlled tech company VK from the App Store, the Kremlin is now demanding an explanation from Apple. Here are the details.

Kremlin demands answers from Apple

Yesterday, we covered how Apple had removed two disguised Russian banking apps from the App Store, less than a month after taking down another such app that had climbed into the top three of the U.S. charts.

Now, it appears those weren’t the only Russian apps Apple removed from the App Store yesterday. As reported by Reuters, the Kremlin is demanding an explanation after several apps developed by state-controlled tech company VK were also taken down.

From Reuters:

VK, a state-controlled technology company, ‌said in a statement that its applications were removed “without warning or explanation”, even though the company has never been under U.S. sanctions.

“Through its actions, Apple is restricting Russian users’ access to popular services ​used by tens of millions of people every day: social networks, messaging apps, ​video platforms, email and educational products,” VK said.

A Kremlin spokesperson told Reuters that if Apple does not provide an explanation, “[it] will ​need to draw conclusions accordingly regarding the continuation of any cooperation with this company.”

Apple, for its part, says it removed the apps to comply with sanctions and reiterated that it follows the laws of the countries where it operates.

This latest spat comes as Russia continues to tighten its control over the country’s digital services.

Last year, the government began requiring phones and tablets sold in Russia to come with VK-developed, state-backed messaging app MAX preinstalled, while also restricting calls through WhatsApp and Telegram. Apple halted official product sales in Russia in March 2022, meaning it was not directly affected.

As for VK, Reuters notes that while “the company is not under Western sanctions, […] ⁠its ​chief executive, Vladimir Kiriyenko, has been sanctioned by the ​European Union, Britain and the U.S.” Reuters adds that Vladimir Kiriyenko’s father, Sergei Kiriyenko, “is President Vladimir Putin’s first deputy chief of staff.”

To read Reuters’ full report, follow this link.

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