Tech News
Apple Reinstates Popular Russian VKontakte App On App Store
The Russian social media app VKontakte has been reinstated on Apple’s app store. The App was earlier deleted on the App Store by Apple
Keynotes
- Apple restored VK’s apps to the App Store after VK confirmed it was not “majority owned or controlled by a sanctioned entity”.
- Apple banned VKontakte, Mail.ru, and other VK services last month due to UK sanctions against the financial institutions that own the Russian firm.
- Russian banks were sanctioned after February’s invasion of Ukraine, Apple also discontinued sales in Russia and Apple Pay.
After Russian tech firm VK proved it was not “majority owned or controlled by a sanctioned entity,” Apple reinstated VK’s apps in the App Store (via The Guardian). As a result of UK sanctions against the financial institutions that hold the Russian enterprise, Apple earlier deleted VKontakte, Mail.ru, and other services owned by VK last month.
Apple spokesperson Peter Ajemian told The Verge via email that the developer’s apps were deleted from the App Store because they violated UK sanctions, despite Apple’s repeated attempts to get the developer to produce proof that they did not. After the developer was taken off the list, they produced documentation showing they were not controlled by a banned organisation. In light of this, the apps are now again available on the App Store.
If you’re looking for a Russian Facebook alternative, VKontakte is a great choice. The Russian government mandated last year that all iPhones sold in the country come preloaded with a selection of Russian-developed apps like VKontakte and Mail.ru. As a response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February, several Russian banks were hit with sanctions. As a result, Apple stopped selling its products in Russia and stopped letting its customers use Apple Pay.
