Russia Forces Apple to Allow RuStore with New Law Signed by Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a new law requiring tech companies — most notably Apple — to allow the installation of the Russian application store RuStore on their devices. The move is part of a broader legislative effort aimed at strengthening Russia’s digital sovereignty and curbing the dominance of foreign tech platforms. According to the new legal provisions, which take effect on September 1, manufacturers and platform holders must not interfere with the preinstallation of Russian software specified by the government. Failure to comply will render a device defective under consumer protection law. The law targets licensing practices that allegedly restrict users from installing third-party applications — including RuStore — on mobile and desktop operating systems. Lawmakers argue that such limitations unfairly restrict competition and user choice, while also undermining national tech infrastructure.