Apple, Google block Alexei Navalny’s app in act of ‘political censorship’

Apple and Google stand accused of “political censorship” after the companies removed an app created by imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navanly under pressure from the Kremlin. 

The app, which encouraged Russians to strategically vote for opposition candidates that were the most likely to defeat members of Putin’s ruling party, disappeared from the companies’ stores on Friday — the same day polls opened in the country’s parliamentary elections. 

Ivan Zhdanov, a close ally and advisor to Navalny, accused the companies of a “shameful act of political censorship” in a series of tweets Friday.