According to The Washington Post, law enforcement agents have repeatedly threatened top Apple officials. Google Russia officials were arrested in September unless they removed Navalny’s Smart Voting app. This app contained more than 1000 endorsements of candidates for seats within Russia’s legislature.

Both companies agreed to these demands as voting was about start. Later, Google restored the app. Android Apple waited for phones to be ready after the election.

According to independent researchers Leonid Volkov, Navalny’s chief of staff, this week has significantly changed.

The report stated that Apple spokespeople refused to comment on the decision. This is amid increasing tensions between Russia and other companies. Many of these companies have pulled out of the market or reduced their activities in the region since Russia invaded Ukraine.

American officials and civil liberties groups are pushing back against this argument, arguing that Apple is providing ordinary Russians with the ability to access independent news sources and connect to activists opposed to the war in Ukraine.

Because Russia’s censorship apparatus cannot block or alter content flowing from installed apps onto users’ phones, apps are a necessary means of communication.