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Apple, Google remove Navalny app before Russian voting begins

Russia Smart Voting Explainer
Posted at 7:51 PM, Sep 17, 2021
and last updated 2021-09-19 12:14:50-04

Apple and Google removed an opposition app prior to an election in Russia.

The app, created by those associated with Alexey Navalny, was pulled for the online stores ahead of this weekend's parliamentary elections, CNN reported.

The app reportedly offered recommendations about opposition candidates in an effort to eventually dethrone Russian President Vladimir Putin.

According to Reuters, the Kremlin put pressure on Apple and Google to remove the app, which it equated to "election interference."

Navalny was sentenced to prison time after returning to the country following his poisoning. Navalny accused Putin of being behind the attack.

Russia faced sanctions from numerous countries for the poisoning of Navalny.