Russia's Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) has opened a case against Apple Inc. over the inability to install the MAX messenger and the RuStore app store on the company's devices, according to infohub.kz.
According to the newspaper Izvestia, the FAS began proceedings against Apple because the specified applications are not installed on iPhones and iPads. Earlier, the service demanded that the company eliminate discriminatory conditions for Russian search engines and comply with requirements for pre-installing software on iOS devices.
The basis for the warning was that Apple devices by default have a foreign search engine installed, which contradicts Russian legislation. Under local laws, technology sold in Russia must support a Russian search engine or a similar service from an EAEU country.
The agency stated: "The company has not complied with the FAS warning regarding the pre-installation of a national messenger and a domestic app store on devices running the iOS operating system."