On Monday, Kommersant claimed that Russia’s presidential administration had ordered officials to cease using Apple (AAPL.O) iPhones due to fears about Western spy agencies’ access.
Sergei Kiriyenko, first deputy director of the presidential administration, instructed participants at a Kremlin-organized seminar for internal politics officials to replace their phones by April 1, Kommersant said, citing anonymous sources.
“It’s all over for the iPhone: either toss it away or give it to the children,” one conference member told Kommersant. “March is mandatory.”
Kommersant said that the Kremlin might provide other operating systems to replace iPhones.
Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson, could not confirm the allegation but said smartphones were not allowed for official usage.
Apple did not immediately react.
Putin has never had a smartphone, but Peskov has indicated he occasionally uses the Internet.
After Russia invaded Ukraine last year, U.S. and British spies revealed that Putin planned to invade. However, the spy’ source is unknown.
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