Moscow, May 21 – A Russian court has fined U.S. technology giant Apple Inc. 10.5 million roubles ($130,483) for alleged violations of the country’s laws restricting what Moscow labels as “LGBT propaganda”, the Moscow courts’ press office said on Monday.
The Tagansky District Court issued four separate fines against Apple Distribution International Ltd. Three of the fines, each worth 2.5 million roubles, were imposed for breaches of Russia’s expanded rules banning the promotion of “non-traditional sexual relations.” A fourth fine of 3 million roubles was issued over the company’s alleged failure to restrict access to unspecified online content deemed illegal under Russian law.
Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The court hearings were held behind closed doors at Apple’s request, according to independent media outlet Mediazona, and the precise details of the content in question were not disclosed.
Russia toughened its legislation on LGBT-related content in 2023, part of a broader crackdown that President Vladimir Putin has presented as a defence against Western cultural values he describes as morally corrupt. The government has also designated the “international LGBT movement” as extremist, opening the door to criminal prosecution of LGBT people and their supporters.
Russian courts have increasingly targeted foreign tech firms and media distributors under the expanded law. Previous cases have seen online streaming services and individual executives fined for similar violations. The ruling against Apple marks one of the highest-profile cases to date under the controversial legislation.
