Russia demands explanation from Apple over VK apps removal

MOSCOW Russia's communications regulators on Wednesday demanded an explanation from Apple after applications operated by Russian state-controlled tech firm VK were removed from the U.S. firm's App Store.

The regulator, Roskomnadzor, has been a thorn in the side of foreign tech firms, issuing fines over data storage violations and failing to remove content Russia deems illegal - disputes that have escalated since Moscow sent its forces into Ukraine in February.

VK runs Vkontakte, which is Russia's largest social network, often compared to Facebook, with over 75 million monthly users. Roskomnadzor said Apple had denied millions of Russians access to VK apps and demanded that it explain its decision.

Apple follows the laws in the jurisdictions where it operates. Apple said the apps in question were distributed by developers majority-owned or majority-controlled by one or more parties sanctioned by the UK government.

The apps can't be downloaded from any App store, according to Apple, which has terminated the developer accounts associated with the apps to comply with UK sanctions.

State-controlled VK tightened its grip on Russia's internet space by completing a deal to buy Yandex's news aggregation, content platform and yandex.ru homepage.

Vladimir Kiriyenko, the CEO of VK, is under UK sanctions, along with his father Sergei Kiriyenko, who serves as President Vladimir Putin's first deputy chief of staff.

Roskomnadzor called the restrictions discriminatory and said they violated Russian internet users' right to free information and communication.

Russia has hampered access to information by forcing Russian media to close and block social media platforms Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

On Tuesday, VK said that its apps, including Vkontakte, continued to work if already installed on phones, and that it was continuing to develop and support apps for Apple's iOS operating system.

Roskomnadzor asked Apple to explain its removal of other apps, including those of airline Aeroflot and a number of banks, such as top lenders Sberbank and VTB.