Russia announced Monday that Apple had paid a million-dollar fine for “abuse of dominant position” in the market by giving preference to its applications for electronic devices, following a complaint from Russian Kaspersky Lab.
“Apple has paid a fine of 906 million rubles (more than $12 million at current exchange rates). The funds have already been received by (…) the Russian Federation.”said in Telegram the Russian Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS).
Apple pays fine imposed by Russia
In April 2021, the FAS ordered the U.S. giant to pay more than 900 million rubles ($12.1 million), ruling in favor of a complaint filed by Russian cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Lab.
“Apple abused its dominant position in the distribution of mobile applications on the iOS operating system.”said FAS in a statement.
Kaspersky Lab denounced Apple accusing it of having blocked access to its parental control program at a time when the U.S. company was about to launch a similar application.
United States considers society Kaspersky Lab a “threat to national security” since March 2022, just after the start of the Russian military offensive in Ukraine, which resulted in a barrage of international sanctions against the Russian economy.
Apple appealed the FAS decision, but the Russian judiciary has ruled in favor of the antitrust regulator.
A history of fines for Apple in Russia
Last February 14, the Moscow Court of Arbitration also rejected the cassation appeal filed by the technological company and upheld the legality of the fine imposed.
As of April 2021, the Russian government imposes the pre-installation of certain Russian applications – including some of Kaspersky Lab— on all electronic devices sold in Russia.
Several high-tech companies, including. Applehave abandoned the Russian market because of the conflict in Ukraineand many skilled workers in the IT sector have left for other countries.
AFP
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