The apps of the Russian Internet company VK, which is run by a friend of Putin, can no longer be downloaded from the Apple Store. The lockdown comes in response to new British sanctions against Russian oligarchs. With this, there are no more updates for the popular social network VKontakte.
The British government earlier this week imposed new sanctions on Russian oligarchs in response to mock referendums in eastern Ukraine. The list includes 23 executives from Gazprombank with connections to the Russian Internet group VK – in the course of which Apple has removed the iOS apps from its App Store worldwide. This means that iPhone users will no longer be able to access VKontakte’s app, the Russian Facebook, in the store, as well as numerous other apps from the company such as Mail.ru, VK Music and Youla classifieds, The Verge reports.
The company has already confirmed that its apps are “blocked by Apple”. According to them, the developer accounts of VK were blocked. Already installed apps should continue to work for the foreseeable future, but there could be problems with notifications and payments, VK told the Russian news agency Interfax. In addition, the mobile browser versions of the portals can still be used and VK wants to continue developing and supporting iOS applications in the future.
Apple spokesman Adam Dema said in a statement: “These apps are being distributed by developers who are majority owned or controlled by one or more parties sanctioned by the UK government. However, Apple has no control over already downloaded apps on the phone, VK apps are also still available in Google’s Play Store.
With the Russian attack on Ukraine, Apple stopped selling its products in the country and the payment service Apple Pay no longer works either. According to the US company, the apps of the Russian state broadcasters RT and Sputnik have been banned from the app stores everywhere except in Russia. According to a law passed last year, Apple initially had to place VK’s applications prominently on the iPhone. Because according to the text of the law, technology companies were obliged to preinstall Russian-made apps on devices sold in the country. Among them is the social network VKontakte.
The Kremlin has now blocked several US networks, including Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Washington responded with sanctions against companies and individuals associated with the Russian government, including UK CEO and Putin ally Vladimir Kiriyenko. He is the son of senior Kremlin official Sergey Kiriyenko. He is also the deputy chief of the presidential administration and responsible for domestic policy.
VKontakte is the largest and most popular social network in Russia. A 2021 Statista survey indicates that 73 percent of people between the ages of 18 and 64 used it. Because the authorities in Germany have no control over the platform, more and more neo-Nazi groups migrated to the Russian Facebook counterpart. In addition, hate comments are not deleted there, which is why internet haters feel particularly comfortable there.
