Three weeks after they were removed from the App Store due to UK sanctions, the Russian apps have been restored.
The two services, which could be described as home-grown versions of Facebook and Gmail, were pulled after the British government imposed sanctions on a Russian bank. In response to sham referenda staged by Russian authorities, the sanctions were imposed.
"These apps are being distributed by developers majority-owned or majority-controlled by one or more parties sanctioned by the UK government," Apple said.
It wasn't immediately clear why Apple restored the apps, since the ownership of Mail.ru and VKontake hasn't changed since they were removed, and the leadership of Gazprombank and Sberbank remains under sanction by the British government. It's possible that Apple's decision was related to the use of the two services by activists.
The apps reappeared on App Stores around the world on Monday. The director of the project told The Guardian.
The only thing we can say for sure is that, once again, Apple implements its App Stores policies in total opacity, thinking it will not be held accountable for its actions. While we are glad to see those apps restored, as some activists and members of civil society organisations were still using them when they were removed, we condemn Apple for its continuous, erratic, and non-transparent way of managing content in the App Store.
Until Apple stopped selling its products in the country, the VKontake and Mail.ru apps were included in a list that Apple was legally obliged to show to new users in Russia.
If Apple comments on the change, we'll update this article.
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