International sanctions impact Russian tech companies, including Yandex – ISW

The international sanctions introduced against the Russian Federation affect the activities of Russian technology companies, in particular, Yandex.

Analysts of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) concluded that.

According to ISW, on June 18, a Moscow court imposed a fine of $23,795 on Yandex for failing to provide user data to the Federal Security Service [principal security agency of Russia – ed.] in accordance with the law on the national security of the Russian Federation. In this regard, the company stated that the sanctions imposed against Russia prevented it from doing so.

According to the company's representative, the sanctions prevent Yandex from "buying, installing and configuring foreign hardware and software," which is necessary to comply with the laws of the Russian Federation.

"Although it is not clear how foreign technological products will help Yandex to comply with Russian legislation, the situation proves that international sanctions have affected some aspects of the Russian technological sector and the national security apparatus," ISW noted.

For reference:

The world has put unprecedented sanctions on Russia since the war of aggression on Ukraine began on February 24, 2022, and the illegal annexation of Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions.

The sanctions have joined the existing ones since 2014 due to the taking of Crimea and Russia's unfulfillment of the Minsk agreements.

The sanctions involve targeted restrictions (individual sanctions), economic sanctions, and visa requirements.

The goal is to cause immense trouble for the Russians who continue with the aggression and punish those responsible for helping, funding or implementing actions to deteriorate Ukraine's sovereignty, freedom, and integrity.

Additionally, Ukrainian allies have applied sanctions:

• to Belarus due to their activities in the Ukrainian invasion;
• and to Iran concerning drone development and distribution.