<\/p>\n
Apple has removed the iOS apps belonging to VK, the technology conglomerate behind Russia\u2019s version of Facebook called VKontakte, from its App Store globally.<\/p>\n
In a\u00a0translated statement\u00a0on its website, VK said that its apps \u201care blocked by Apple\u201d but that it will \u201ccontinue to develop and support iOS applications.\u201d In response to an inquiry by\u00a0The Verge<\/em>, Apple spokesperson Adam Dema confirmed that VK\u2019s apps have been removed and its developer accounts shut down.<\/p>\n \u201cThese apps are being distributed by developers majority-owned or majority-controlled by one or more parties sanctioned by the UK government,\u201d Dema said in a statement. \u201cIn order to comply with these sanctions, Apple terminated the developer accounts associated with these apps, and the apps cannot be downloaded from any App Store, regardless of location. Users who have already downloaded these apps may continue to use them.\u201d<\/p>\n On Monday, the UK government\u00a0enacted new sanctions\u00a0on Russian oligarchs in response to sham referendums Russia recently held in parts of Ukraine. The sanctions affect 23 executives at Gazprombank, a Russian bank\u00a0with ties to VK.<\/p>\n The Russian Ministry of Digital Affairs\u00a0told state-controlled media outlet\u00a0RT<\/em>\u00a0that it was investigating \u201cthe reasons for deleting VK applications and developer accounts, underlining the social significance and scale of use of the services provided by the Russian company.\u201d The VK apps are still available on Google\u2019s Play Store.<\/p>\n Since Russia invaded Ukraine earlier this year, its government has blocked several American social media sites, including\u00a0Instagram,\u00a0Facebook, and\u00a0Twitter. The US and other governments have in turn already sanctioned many Russian-government-affiliated individuals and businesses, including\u00a0VK Group CEO and Putin ally Vladimir Kiriyenko.<\/p>\n VK is Russia\u2019s second-largest internet company after Yandex, the country\u2019s own version of Google. The social media firm was created in 2006 by Pavel Durov, who was eventually\u00a0pushed out\u00a0after he \u201crefused to cooperate with the authorities.\u201d He now runs the popular messaging app Telegram.<\/p>\n Apple removing VK\u2019s apps means that iPhone users no longer have access to the app for the\u00a0fifth most popular site\u00a0in Russia, as well as other apps from VK like Mail.ru, VK Music, and Youla classifieds. The company\u00a0told Russian news outlet\u00a0Interfax<\/em>\u00a0that the apps may continue to work but that there could be issues with notifications and payments.<\/p>\n Interfax<\/em>\u00a0also reports on Tuesday that\u00a0VK sold off the assets of its gaming division, My.Games to LETA Capital head Alexander Chachava, a Russian businessman who is based in the Cayman Islands and managed to come up with $642 million to close the deal. It will continue to be run by executives who were already in place, and VK had\u00a0touted it as a Russian alternative to Steam\u00a0and Epic Games Store after sanctions blocked many digital games sales in the country.<\/p>\n Earlier this year, Apple\u00a0stopped selling its products in the country\u00a0and made certain Russian news apps inaccessible from everywhere but Russia, just weeks after sanctions prevented customers of Russian banks from\u00a0using Google Pay and Apple Pay.<\/p>\n VK\u2019s apps once had a very prominent place on the iPhone. Last year, a\u00a0law went into effect\u00a0that required technology companies to pre-install Russian-made apps on devices sold in the country. Apple complied by\u00a0adding a screen to the iPhone\u2019s setup process\u00a0that showed users a list of apps from Russian companies that they could download. Included on the list were several apps from VK, including its social network, email client, and a digital assistant.<\/p>\n