What you need to know
- Russia has demanded Apple and Google remove an app from Alexei Navalny.
- The jailed leader of the opposition has an anti-corruption foundation that posts content through the app Navalny.
- A court has found the organization is an extremist organization, resulting in the watchdog's demands.
Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor has demanded that Apple and Google remove opposition leader Alexei Navalny's app from their respective App Stores.
Interfax reports:
Roskomnadzor (RKN) requires Apple and Google to remove the application "Navalny" from their services App Store and Google Play, as it is used to promote the activities of organizations recognized as extremist and banned in the Russian Federation.
The department stated, "Roskomnadzor appealed with a demand for the need to remove the application "Navalny" from the application stores," following instruction from the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation which requires it to restrict access to information related to the work of the Anti-Corruption Fund. A Moscow Court ruled in June that the FBK was implementing extremist activities:
"On the basis of the requirement of the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation, from July 26, Roskomnadzor restricted access to information resources related to the functioning of the organizations "Anti-Corruption Fund" (FBK), the Fund for the Protection of Citizens' Rights (FZPG) and the public movement "Headquarters of the Navalny", in respect of which the Moscow City Court on 09.06.2021 made a decision to liquidate and ban activities on the grounds of extremist activities," the department told Interfax.
Associates of the opposition leader had reportedly made known the demands to block the app, titled Navalny on Apple's App Store. Russia has banned some 50 sites and outlets related to Navalny, including navalny.com and fbk.info.
