The Kremlin has demanded an explanation from Apple after the removal of several apps from the Russian tech company VK from the App Store. Moscow denounces the decision as unjustified, arguing that it deprives millions of users of widely used digital services in the country.
The affected apps belong to VK, a Russian state-controlled technology group. In a statement, the company claims its apps were removed "without warning or explanation," while emphasizing that it has never been subject to US sanctions.
VK believes this decision restricts Russian users' access to several everyday services, including social media, messaging apps, video platforms, email services, and educational tools. The company calls Apple's actions "unjustified and unacceptable."
For its part, Apple stated that the company complies with the laws and regulations in force in the countries where it operates. The American group specified that the removal of VK's applications was carried out in order to comply with applicable sanctions regimes.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the relevant Russian authorities would contact Apple directly to obtain an explanation for this decision. According to him, Moscow intends to ask the American company to justify the removal of these applications.
This latest episode illustrates the ongoing tensions between major Western technology companies and Russia since the start of the conflict in Ukraine. International sanctions and restrictions imposed by various actors continue to hinder access to digital services and strain relations between foreign companies and the Russian market.
Community
Comments
Comments are open, but protected against spam. Initial posts and comments containing links undergo manual review.
Be the first to comment on this article.