Russia opens antitrust case against Apple over MAX and RuStore

Russia has opened a formal antitrust case against Apple after the company failed to preinstall the state-backed MAX messenger and RuStore app marketplace on iPhones and other devices sold in the country.



Reuters reports that Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service launched the proceedings after Apple did not fully comply with an earlier warning over what the regulator called discriminatory treatment of domestic software.



Russia introduced rules in 2019 requiring device makers to offer locally developed apps, and the law took effect in 2021. Apple responded by showing Russian users a list of recommended apps during iPhone setup instead of installing them automatically.



The dispute deepened after Apple stopped product sales and exports to Russia in 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine. Apple later removed several Russian apps from the App Store, including services linked to VK, while citing international sanctions.



Russia expanded its requirements last year by ordering manufacturers to preinstall MAX and make RuStore available on Apple devices. Apple did not follow either rule, although it reportedly allowed a Russian search engine to appear on iOS 26.6.



The regulator has not disclosed what penalty Apple could face if it finds the company violated competition law. Apple has not commented on the case.