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Russia Demands Apple Explain App Store Removals

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Russia's state-owned tech firm VK reported that its apps were removed from the Apple App Store without warning or explanation.
  • The Kremlin has demanded an explanation from Apple, calling the decision unfair and unacceptable.
  • Apple stated the removal complies with sanctions regulations, though VK itself is not directly sanctioned.

Russian tech giant VK is demanding answers from Apple after its popular applications were abruptly removed from the App Store. The company claims the removal occurred without warning or stated reason, impacting millions of daily users.

We believe that Apple's actions towards Russian users are completely unfair and unacceptable.

— VKVK's statement regarding the removal of its applications from the App Store.

VK stated that the decision by the tech giant "limits the access of Russian users to these popular services used by tens of millions of people daily." The company called Apple's actions "completely unfair and unacceptable," especially since VK itself is not subject to Western sanctions.

The Kremlin has taken notice, with presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov announcing that relevant government bodies will directly contact Apple to seek an explanation. This move could push users towards the Android ecosystem.

Relevant authorities will directly contact Apple to address this matter and demand an explanation.

— Dmitry PeskovKremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on the government's response to Apple's decision.

Apple, however, maintains that its actions are in line with sanctions regulations. While VK's apps, including its popular communication tools and social media platform "VKontakte," were removed, the company's CEO, Vladimir Kiriyenko, is under EU, UK, and US sanctions. His father, Sergei Kiriyenko, is a former Russian Prime Minister.

The company complies with all laws in the countries where it operates, and the removal of VK applications from the App Store is to comply with sanctions regulations.

— AppleApple's official response explaining the removal of VK apps.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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