Apple removes Russian Facebook competitor VK from App Store

Apple has removed VK, Russia’s homegrown Facebook competitor, from its App Store globally, citing conflicts with British sanctions.

In a statement on the social network’s website, the company said the app would continue to work on smartphones that had already installed it before the takedown, but warned users that “there may be difficulties with notifications and payments” as a result.

“In recent months, key updates have been implemented on our main products, which will allow the apps to remain relevant for a long time,” the statement continued. “Our experts are doing their best to maintain and continue to improve the user experience.”

Apple confirmed the removal in a statement. “These apps are being distributed by developers majority-owned or majority-controlled by one or more parties sanctioned by the UK government.

“In 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.”

The Russian ministry of digital affairs said it had pushed Apple for the reason for the deletion, “underlining the social significance and scale of use of the services provided by the Russian company” and said a “plan of action” would follow the company’s response.

Like many western companies, Apple voluntarily scaled back its Russian operations after the country launched its latest attack on Ukraine in February. It stopped selling its products, forcing the country to add iPhones to a list of goods that could be imported and resold without permission of the trademark owner, under the so-called parallel import scheme.

The latest tranche of UK sanctions was issued on Monday, in response to the sham referendums held by Russian authorities in occupied Ukraine to demonstrate consent for annexing the territories. The latest sanctions include 39 members of the leadership of Gazprombank and Sberbank, state-linked banks that between them own a little under half of VK, formerly known as VKontakte.

“Sham referendums held at the barrel of a gun cannot be free or fair and we will never recognise their results,” said the UK foreign secretary, James Cleverly. “They follow a clear pattern of violence, intimidation, torture, and forced deportations in the areas of Ukraine [that] Russia has seized.

“Today’s sanctions will target those behind these sham votes, as well as the individuals that continue to prop up the Russian regime’s war of aggression. We stand with the Ukrainian people and our support will continue as long as it takes to restore their sovereignty.”