VK sues Apple over removal of apps from the App Store

Russian technology company VK has filed a lawsuit against Apple in the Moscow Arbitration Court over the removal of its apps from the App Store. The company demands that the services be returned to the store and that the ability for users to receive push notifications be restored.

In the lawsuit, VK asks the court to oblige Apple to restore access to its apps in the App Store. The lawsuit also concerns the functionality of already installed apps: after their removal from the store, users of Apple devices lost the ability to properly receive push notifications.

In addition, VK requests that a judicial penalty be imposed in case Apple fails to comply with the court's decision. The amount of this penalty is not specified in the lawsuit reports.

The conflict between the companies began at the end of June. On June 25, Apple removed from the App Store the main apps of the VK group, including "VKontakte", "Odnoklassniki", "Dzen", VK Video, VK Messenger, VK Music, VK Dating and Mail.ru services.

VK stated at the time that the removal occurred without warning, and that previously installed apps would continue to work, but they would no longer be available for download or update through the App Store.

Apple explained its decision as a necessity to comply with sanctions rules in the jurisdictions where the company operates, but did not specify which restrictions were meant.

VK, for its part, insisted that at the time of the removal of the apps, the group itself was not under relevant sanctions. The Russian Ministry of Digital Development also stated that it saw no sanctions basis for the blocking and appealed to the Federal Antimonopoly Service.

However, on July 13, the European Union imposed restrictive measures against VK and its subsidiary, the developer of the Max messenger. The removal of VK's main apps from the App Store, however, took place before this decision.