Apple and Google pull Navalny voting app as Russians head to polls

The move drew swift anger from Washington and opposition activists, with critics calling it ‘a shameful act of political censorship’

Russian authorities had warned that the US tech giants’ staff could face criminal charges if the app was not removed

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Face masks depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny were among others on sale at a souvenir shop in St. Petersburg on September 8. Photo: AP

Published: 2:30am, 18 Sep 2021Updated: 7:59pm, 18 Sep 2021

Apple Inc. and Alphabet Inc.’s Google removed a protest-voting app from their Russian stores on Friday as parliamentary elections got under way, a move that pleased the Kremlin but drew swift anger from Washington and opposition activists.

The US technology companies “have caved into the Kremlin’s blackmail,” Leonid Volkov, a top aide to jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny, wrote on Telegram. The Putin critic’s supporters denounced the move as “a shameful act of political censorship”.

Democratic US Senator Chris Murphy called the move “indefensible”.

Google removed the app under pressure after officials threatened to imprison its local employees, a person close to the company said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Apple and Google did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Russian authorities had accused the companies of meddling in the elections by offering the opposition apps despite court rulings banning access to the content.

The Smart Voting app is displayed on an iPhone screen in Moscow on Friday. Photo: AP

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