Apple's “LGBT propaganda” hearings in Moscow court. Live updates

Since the outbreak of war in Ukraine in 2022, Apple has increasingly found itself yielding to Russian state censors, systematically removing applications and content deemed problematic by the Kremlin. This escalating compliance with Roskomnadzor, the country’s censorship agency, has enabled Apple to largely maintain its operations in Russia, despite intensifying wartime censorship.

The first major punitive action occurred in August 2023, when a Moscow court fined Apple just over $4,000 for failing to remove “inaccurate” content concerning the war in Ukraine and content allegedly aimed at involving minors in “destabilisation” efforts in Russia. The hearing was held behind closed doors at Apple’s request, with company representatives citing “commercial confidentiality.” Nonetheless, apps depicting same-sex couples were reportedly among the content targeted, a move connected to Russia’s newly expanded “LGBT propaganda” legislation. While the fine itself was relatively modest, it placed Apple alongside other major global technology firms that have faced penalties in Russia.

Apple’s own transparency report for 2023 subsequently confirmed a trend: twelve applications were removed at Russia’s behest, an increase from seven in 2022. These actions were predominantly justified under a sweeping “On Information” law, employed to silence dissent and counter “fake news” about the military—i.e., any information about the war that goes against state narratives.

In the summer of 2024 Russia intensified its drive against tools used to circumvent censorship. In July, Apple removed major VPN services, including Proton VPN and NordVPN, from its Russian AppStore, explicitly attributing the takedowns to Roskomnadzor. Research from the digital rights group GreatFire then exposed the scale of the VPN purge: nearly sixty services were removed from the Russian AppStore between July and mid-September, many without any public notification. Amnezia VPN’s developers decried Apple as “the largest provider of censorship in the world”. 

By November, Apple had restricted access to podcasts from the BBC Russian, The Insider, an investigative news site, and Ekho Moskvy, a liberal radio station. That same month, another fine, this time for 3.6 million roubles (~$45,000), was levied against Apple for failing to delete unspecified “prohibited information”.

Confronted with mounting criticism, Apple, in a statement to Reporters Without Borders in late 2024 justified its actions. The company argued that non-compliance could jeopardise its entire Russian AppStore operation and even suggested that the US government encouraged companies to maintain such communication channels within Russia. 

4:23 pm (Moscow time)

Proceedings in the Apple case are an hour behind schedule. Judge Alexandra Anokhina was occupied this morning, presiding over several cases involving journalists accused of violating Russia’s “foreign agents” act. This court handles hundreds of similar proceedings. 

A camera crew from NTV TV station arrived, escorted by the court’s press secretary. They filmed the empty courtroom before being instructed by the press secretary to wait downstairs. They would be invited back to film should a decision be announced today.

A representative for Apple and five journalists enter the small courtroom before the start of the hearing.

4:25 pm (Moscow time)

Judge Anokhina has entered the room, and the hearing is now underway. Apple is represented by Elena Chetverikova. The prosecution bench is empty.

Almost immediately, Apple’s lawyer has moved to close the hearing to the public. Chetverikova argues that journalists covering the proceedings might disclose proprietary information regarding Apple services.

Judge Anokhina has agreed to this request. The courtroom is now being cleared of press and public.

4:47 pm. Apple has been fined $31,000

Soon after the courtroom was cleared at Apple’s request, the press was invited back in. Judge Alexandra Anokhina has quickly delivered her ruling: Apple has been fined 2.5 million roubles (over $31,000).

Our reporter notes that the judge read the decision at such a rapid pace it was virtually impossible to grasp the precise details of the claims. We then approached the court’s press secretary to request that a summary of the official court record be released for clarity. The response was terse: “The hearing is closed.”

There are three more protocols to be considered today.

5:10 pm. Apple hit with second $31,000 fine

Proceedings are moving very quickly. The hearing for a second case also concluded in just over ten minutes. Apple has been fined an additional 2.5 million roubles (over $31,000) under this second protocol over “LGBT propaganda”.

This brings the total fines so far today to 5 million roubles ($62,000). Details regarding the specific claims in this each case remain unclear.

5:28 pm. Third fine for Apple; total now $93,500

A third fine, again for 2.5 million roubles, has just been imposed on Apple by the Tagansky court in Moscow.

This brings the total fines levied against the company in today’s proceedings to 7.5 million roubles, or about $93,500.

5:35. Two new charges against Apple unveiled

It appears that two new protocols under “LGBT propaganda” article were lodged with the court against Apple today, apparently right in the midst of the ongoing string of hearings. The exact nature of the charges remains unknown. 

One more case for today, failure to delete content сharge: $37,400 fine

Tagansky District Court moved to hear a different protocol against Apple, this one concerning failure to delete content at the request of Russian authorities. This is the only case on Apple’s docket today not directly related to the “LGBT propaganda” law. 

Following the pattern, this hearing has also been closed to the public. The proceedings for this specific case lasted somewhat longer than the previous ones, about 20 minutes. 

The judge fined Apple 3 million roubles (about $37,400), bringing the total for today to $131,000. Apple’s day in Moscow court concludes.