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MOSCOW (AP) – An app created by allies of the imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny disappeared Apple and Google Stores open on Friday Russia For three days of voting in parliamentary elections.
It comes as they try to suppress the use of Smart Voting, a project conceived by the Russian authorities. naval forces Promoting the candidates most likely to beat those supported by the Kremlin. This weekend’s election is seen as an important part of President Vladimir Putin’s efforts to consolidate his grip on power ahead of the 2014 presidential election, in which control of parliament is key.
Apple and Google Russian authorities have come under pressure in recent weeks, urging them to remove the app with Smart Voting, saying not doing so would be interpreted as election interference and would threaten them with fines.
Last week, RussiaThe State Department summoned US Ambassador John Sullivan about the situation.
On Thursday, representatives Apple and Google He was invited to a meeting in his upper house. RussiaParliament, Federation Council. In a statement after the meeting, the Commission said: Apple He agreed to cooperate with the Russian authorities.
Apple and Google did not respond to a request for comment.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday that he welcomes the presidential administration’s decision to “absolutely, of course” remove the practice as companies comply with Russian law. Peskov said the practice was “illegal”. Russia.
In recent months, authorities have launched a sweeping crackdown on Navalny’s allies and supporters in an effort to suppress Smart Voting.
After surviving poisoning with a nerve gas last year, naval forces sentenced to 2½ years in prison for violating parole due to a previous conviction. he He says both the poisoning and the conviction were politically motivated – he denies the Kremlin.
Her best allies slapped on criminal charges and her The Anti-Corruption Foundation and its network of regional offices were outlawed as extremist organisations. This has exposed hundreds of people affiliated with the groups to prosecution. Most her senior partners left the country. About 50 websites her team run was blocked and dozens of regional offices were closed.
Authorities also took action to block the Smart Voting website, but some internet users still have access to it. naval forcesHis team has also created a Smart Vote chatbot on messaging app Telegram and posted a list of Smart Vote approved candidates. Google Docs and on YouTube.
naval forces‘s close ally Ivan Zhdanov tweeted a screenshot of what appears to be an email on Friday. Appleexplains why the app should be removed from the store. The screenshot refers to the Anti-Corruption Foundation’s definition of extremism and allegations of election interference. “Google, Apple we are making a big mistake,” wrote Zhdanov.
Leonid Volkov, naval forcesThe top strategist of the ‘Kremlin’ wrote on Facebook that companies have “given to the blackmail of the Kremlin”. he noted that the gesture does not affect users who have downloaded the app before, and the app should work properly.
Peskov described Friday’s Smart Voting as “another attempt at provocation that is detrimental to voters.”
While voting continues Russia On Friday morning, media outlets reported large queues and crowds at polling stations, tying them to government agencies and companies forcing their employees to vote.
Peskov denied the allegations and suggested that those who queued at the polls came voluntarily because they had to work at the weekend or because they wanted to “free up” on Saturday and Sunday.
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