The Federal Antimonopoly Service has identified signs of a violation of competition protection law in Apple’s actions. The reason was a complaint from the developers of the Russian alternative Telegram client, the Telega app, which was removed from the App Store on April 9, the agency’s press service reported.
Apple did not provide specific technical claims regarding the app’s code, and already installed versions stopped launching on iOS devices with a malware warning. The FAS recalled that the corporation had already paid a fine of 1.2 billion rubles in January 2024 for prohibiting developers from informing users about alternative payment methods.
The company’s actions may contain signs of a violation of the law. If a violation is established, response measures will be taken
The Telega team called the blocking "the arbitrariness of a platform monopolist".
We believe that when a suspicion arises, Apple is obligated to provide specific technical claims and grant time to remedy them. If, in Apple’s opinion, we are violating something, then we have the right to know exactly what it is
In the two weeks since the app’s removal, not a single clear reason or technical conclusion has been received from the corporation.
In March, Telega became the fastest-growing messenger in Russia, with a monthly reach of nearly 7.5 million people. Blocking the developer account without explanation leaves a multimillion-user audience without access to the app on iPhone. If Apple is again found to be in violation, this could involve not only a new turnover-based fine, but also a forced change to App Store rules in the territory of the Russian Federation.
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