Navalny's ally says removing opposition voting app is part of opposition persecution

Record ID: 1637340

  • Title: Navalny's ally says removing opposition voting app is part of opposition persecution
  • Date: 17th September 2021
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (SEPTEMBER 17, 2021) (REUTERS) KREMLIN
  • Embargoed: 1st October 2021 11:50
  • Keywords: Navalny Russia election parliament smart voting state duma
  • Location: MOSCOW, RUSSIA / UNKNOWN LOCATION
  • City: MOSCOW, RUSSIA / UNKNOWN LOCATION
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Europe,Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
  • Reuters ID: LVA005EV3XKCN
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Ally of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, Leonid Volkov said on Friday (September 17) that a decision by Alphabet's Google and Apple to remove a banned anti-government tactical voting app from their stores is a part of opposition persecution that has been going on for a long time in Russia.
    The app, devised by allies of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, gives people detailed recommendations on who to vote for in an effort to thwart the electoral chances of the ruling United Russia party which supports President Vladimir Putin.
    The Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov welcomed the decision by Alphabet's Google and Apple.
    "This app is illegal in our country, both platforms were notified accordingly and seemingly made this decision in accordance with the letter of the law," Peskov said.
    The election, which will run until Sunday (September 19) evening, is a test of Putin's grip on power across 11 time zones from the Pacific Ocean to the Baltic Sea at a time when the Kremlin is facing malaise at home over faltering living standards and bad ties with the West.
    The United Russia party is facing a ratings slump but is expected to win the vote that follows the biggest crackdown on the Kremlin's domestic political opponents in years.
    (Production: Gennadiy Novik, Dmitry Madorsky, Dmitry Turlyun)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2021. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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