VK application available in App Store again

MOSCOW. Oct 14 (Interfax) - The VK social media platform mobile application, the VK Music and VK Clips services are available for download via the App Store again.

"The VK application for iOS is available in the App Store again. We welcome the decision of Apple. Users have access to their favorite services again," the VK press service said.

A number of mobile applications from the VK portfolio, including the VK app, the VK Music and VK Clips services disappeared from the App Store in late September.

VK, the Russian Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media and telecoms watchdog Roskomnadzor asked Apple Inc. to clarify the reasons for removing VK applications from the App Store.

The Verge media outlet, citing an Apple spokesperson, said that the company removed the applications from the VK portfolio from the App Store because they are distributed by entities under UK sanctions.

VK's largest shareholder is JSC MF Technologies, which holds a 57.3% voting stake in the Internet holding (a 4.8% economic stake). The co-owners of MFT are Sogaz and Gazprom-Media Holding, which control 45% of MFT shares each, and Rostec, which holds a 10% stake.

Along with MFT, VK's other shareholders are Naspers-Prosus (a 25.7% economic stake and a 12.3% voting stake), Alibaba Group (9.5% and 4.5%) and Tencent (7% and 3.3%).

Rostec and Sogaz are on the UK sanctions list. Individual sanctions also apply to Gazprom-Media Holding head Alexander Zharov (the explanation is that the company received benefits and provided support to the Russian government while operating in the information communications and digital technology sector, which is of strategic importance to the Russian government).

Meanwhile, VK head Vladimir Kiriyenko is under individual sanctions imposed by the United States.