JSC Telega, the company that developed the Telegram client application, filed a formal complaint with Serviço Federal Antimonopólio from Rússia on April 22, 2026. The complaint accuses Apple of abusing its dominant position after removing the App Store app on April 9, blocking the developer account on the same day and displaying malware alerts on iPhones with the software already installed from April 17th. The developers claim that the American company took the measures without providing detailed technical explanations or opportunities for correction.
Remoção without full technical justification
Apple classified Telega as spyware and implemented takedown actions. Conforme developers, the company did not offer specific information about the violations highlighted nor guidance for remediating possible problems. Solicitações sent by JSC Telega resulted only in formal responses, without technical dialogue that would allow disputes or adjustments to the code.
Telega works as a third-party client for Telegram and gained popularity over Rússia following restrictions on the messenger’s main application. Usuários could normally download it from App Store until the beginning of April. Após was withdrawn, the app remained available on Google Play and on RuStore, a Russian application distribution platform.
Sinais security preceded Apple’s action
Web security agencies Empresas, including Cloudflare, identified domains associated with Telega as spyware-related in early April. Cloudflare removed the flag days later, after direct contact with the developers. The GlobalSign certification authority revoked the project’s TLS certificate during the same period.
- Remoção of App Store occurred on April 9, 2026.
- Developer account Bloqueio happened on the same day.
- Alertas on installed devices started on April 17th.
- Queixa to the FAS was filed on April 22.
- Aplicativo remains available for Android via Google Play and RuStore.
Apple maintained the malware classification and blocked the app from running on iPhones. Usuários report that the operating system automatically closes the application and displays a message warning of malicious code, recommending immediate deletion of the software.
Pedidos restore and policy changes
In its complaint to the FAS, JSC Telega requests that the body declare Apple’s actions a violation of Article 10 of the Russian competition protection law. The company requires restoration of the developer profile, return of the application to the store and changes to the platform’s moderation practices for greater transparency. The complaint also highlights financial and image damage caused by the lack of technical dialogue that prevented any possibility of contestation.
The developers insist that Telega uses the official Telegram protocol and poses no security risk. Independent Verificações cited by the company reinforces that the software does not contain malicious code. Apple, in turn, maintains the block based on its own security assessment, without disclosing technical details publicly.
Contexto Apple output and regulator actuation
Apple ended direct commercial operations at Rússia in 2022, but its smartphones continue to be in circulation through importers and resellers. The company has not publicly commented on the Telega case so far. Especialistas from the sector follows the developments in the FAS, which has already imposed fines on Apple in matters related to the application market in other countries.
Impacto on iOS users and future prospects
Usuários that already had Telega installed face interruption in usage, with the operating system preventing opening and suggesting removal. Novas facilities have been locked since the store withdrawal. Quem seeks alternatives to the main Telegram, needs to resort to other options available on App Store or migrate to Android devices, where Telega remains accessible. The complaint to the FAS could lead to broader investigations into Apple’s policies at Rússia, with developments dependent on the US company’s response and the regulator’s technical analysis.