Russia: Roskomnadzor demands Apple to provide its reasons for removal of Russian applications from the App Store

On 28 September 2022, the Russian Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology, and Mass Media, Roskomnadzor, announced that it had required Apple to provide the reasons for its decision to remove the VK Music, VK Clips, VK Messenger, VK Admin and Mail.ru applications from its App Store. The Roskomnadzor noted that the applications are subject to the mandatory pre-installation requirement on mobile devices based on Decree No. 3704 enacting Federal Law No. 425. Furthermore, the applications are also part of the Ministry of Digital Development’s required applications installation list. In addition, Roskomnadzor stated that Apple’s decision to remove the applications violates the right of Russian citizens to receive information and communicate freely. Finally, Apple was required to send the agency the reasons for the deletion of other applications, including Domklik, Yula, 2GIS, Sberbank, Alfa-Bank, VTB, Promsvyazbank, Sovcombank, Otkritie, Novikombank, Aeroflot and Utair.