In a significant development for the Russian digital landscape, Apple has made the decision to remove VKontakte (VK), one of the country’s largest social networks, from its App Store. This action was confirmed by VK Group on Thursday, prompting a response from the Kremlin, which is now seeking clarification from the tech giant based in California.
VK’s Response and Implications
Launched in 2006 as Russia’s alternative to Facebook, VK has evolved into one of the most frequented websites and social platforms in the nation. In a statement, VK Group expressed its discontent, stating, “Apple has removed VK apps from the App Store without warning or explanation. VK Group apps are no longer available for download or updates on Apple devices.”
The company further emphasized the impact of this decision, noting that “Apple is restricting Russian users’ access to popular services used daily by tens of millions of people, including social networks, messaging apps, video platforms, email, and educational products.”
Apple’s Justification
In response to inquiries from AFP, Apple clarified its stance, asserting that it adheres to the laws of the jurisdictions in which it operates. The company indicated that the removal of VK from the App Store was a necessary step to comply with existing sanctions.
Notably, VK has stated that it has never been subjected to U.S. sanctions, raising questions about the rationale behind Apple’s decision. This move follows a similar action taken earlier in the month, where Apple also removed Max, a state-backed messenger developed by VK, from its App Store.
Kremlin’s Reaction
The Kremlin has labeled Apple’s decision as “bizarre,” with spokesman Dmitry Peskov announcing that relevant authorities will reach out to the service for an explanation. He remarked, “Naturally, this raises questions about the service’s reliability and the extent to which it can be trusted as a service provider.”
Additionally, Russia’s digital development ministry has characterized Apple’s action as “a politically motivated decision.” The ministry expressed that it has not received a satisfactory explanation from Apple regarding any sanctions-related requirements and asserted that “there are no grounds for blocking the VK apps.”
