Key facts
- Russia's government criticized Apple for blocking key Russian apps.
- Key Russian apps blocked include VKontakte and Max messaging.
- Russia is urging citizens to switch to Android devices.
- Apple has not provided an explanation for the app removals.
Russia's government has publicly criticized Apple after the tech giant blocked key Russian applications from its App Store. The affected apps include popular social media platform VKontakte and the Max messaging service. In response to these blocks, Russian officials are now advising citizens to transition to Android devices. The government has stated that Apple has not provided any official explanation for the removal of these applications. This situation highlights a growing tension between Russian authorities and major international technology companies regarding app availability and access within the Russian market. The move by Apple impacts users who depend on these specific Russian-developed applications for communication and social networking.