Apple restored VKontakte, a Russian social network, to the App Store

Apple has reinstated the apps made by the Russian technology group VK on the App Store after the company provided proof that it’s not “majority owned or controlled by a sanctioned entity” (via The Guardian). The company VKontakte was taken down by VKMail.ru and other email apps were shut down last month by Mail.ru in protest at the UK’s sanctions against financial institutions that owned the Russian company.

“The apps from this developer were removed from the App Store, as required by law, after multiple requests were made to the developer to provide documentation to verify that they were not in violation of UK sanctions,” Apple spokesperson Peter Ajemian said in an emailed statement to The Verge. “Subsequent to the removal, the developer has provided the requisite information verifying that they are not majority owned or controlled by a sanctioned entity. Thus, the apps have been reinstated to the App Store.”

Updated October 18th at 6:34 PM ETUpdated with a statement by Apple.