Roskomnadzor refuted reports of an App Store blockage. The agency…
Roskomnadzor refuted reports of an App Store blockage. The agency told TASS that Roskomnadzor does not restrict access to the app store.
Consensus
- Russian users reported problems accessing App Store and Google Play on July 20.
- Roskomnadzor denied restricting access to App Store in Russia.
- The issues were primarily reported by users in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Volgograd Oblast, Stavropol Krai, and Udmurt Republic.
- There was a spike in complaints around noon on July 20, with the situation normalizing by early afternoon.
- Roskomnadzor stated it does not restrict access to foreign services including Apple, Google, GitHub, and Telegram.
Points of divergence
- The journalist from The Bell suggests that the disruptions may be a form of retaliation by Roskomnadzor against Apple and Google following the removal of sanctioned apps like 'Max' and VK applications, possibly testing access slowdowns rather than full blocks. — meduza
- The journalist from The Bell notes that App Store issues are more critical for Russian users than Google Play issues because iOS devices become nearly unusable without the store. — meduza
- On July 14, Apple's website stopped working in Russia, and users also faced problems accessing Google search engine; Roskomnadzor confirmed it did not restrict access to these services. — vm
Coverage (13 sources)
- You Ignore Us and Enforce Sanctions — But We Can Do This: What's Happening with App Store and Google Play? New Blockades? What Is the Roskomnadzor Trying to Achieve? — Meduza
- Roskomnadzor comments on reports of issues with the App Store — Фонтанка
- Roskomnadzor claims it does not restrict access to the App Store — Вести
- Roskomnadzor denies reports of App Store blocking — ASTRA
- Roskomnadzor denies reports of App Store being blocked in Russia — Вечерняя Москва
- Russian users report App Store malfunction; app store won't open without VPN, games and programs cannot be downloaded — Varlamov News
- Roskomnadzor commented on App Store malfunctions in Russia — Коммерсантъ
- Roskomnadzor states it does not restrict access to the App Store in Russia — Интерфакс
- ❗️App Store stopped working in Russia. — Первый Московский
- App Store no longer opens in Russia — SOTAvision
- ❗️App Store no longer works in Russia; access possible only via VPN — Новости Москвы
- Russian users report App Store malfunction — Varlamov News
- RKN states that it does not restrict access to the App Store — Москва 24