Because of worries that the gadgets are exposed to Western intelligence agencies, the Kremlin instructed officials working on Russia’s 2024 presidential election to avoid using Apple iPhones, according to the Kommersant newspaper.
Sergei Kiriyenko, the first deputy head of the presidential administration, instructed officials to change their phones by April 1 at a seminar organized by the Kremlin for those active in domestic politics, according to Kommersant, citing unnamed sources.
Kremlin Instructed Officials
One of the attendees of the conference reportedly said, “It’s all over for the iPhone: either toss it away or give it to the kids,” as reported by Kommersant.
Dmitry Peskov, the spokesman for the Kremlin, declined to corroborate the allegation when questioned about it on Monday.
- The Kremlin instructed officials working on Russia‘s 2024 presidential election to avoid using Apple iPhones.
- Sergei Kiriyenko instructed officials to change their phones by April 1 at a seminar organized by the Kremlin.
- The order to stop using iPhones had been addressed to people active in internal politics.
Peskov advised reporters that using a smartphone while conducting official business was improper. The mechanism behind any smartphone, regardless of the operating system, is usually obvious. Of course, they are not employed for official functions.
Apple declined to respond right away to a request for comment. Kremlin may provide alternative devices with alternative operating systems to replace iPhones for people active in internal politics, Kommersant reported.
Vladimir Putin has consistently said he doesn’t own a smartphone, however, Peskov has claimed that Putin occasionally uses the internet.
American and British spies claimed a scoop by discovering and making public intelligence that Putin was plotting to invade shortly after Russia moved soldiers into Ukraine last year. The spy’ method of gathering this intelligence is unknown.
