There is a theory that Telegram is a Russian op, given that they still having office in Russia, which they are very secretive about, despite the claims of Durov being nearly chased by KGB on every corner.
Setting aside any speculation as to whether they are in fact a state-backed covert operation, last time I checked it appeared to be a tiny company of undisclosed structure, which—while in a way glamorous/romantic—does not strike me as a radically more acceptable/sustainable state of affairs, as it makes the individuals involved liable to be influenced (including through [in]direct fear for personal safety, a mechanism markedly more effective than fines or legal action) by whomever is able to find them.
For now, Google and Apple ban "another dangerous organization," not political opposition. Google and Apple already censor all the content and application for local markets.
It's nothing new. Many youtube videos are restricted in some countries but accessible in others. Companies want to make money, not to play political games, and to declare war for freedom. It's not their responsibility. But in Russia, many local players dream about a ban of Google and Apple to finally take all the market.
Mail.ru, Yandex, Vkontakte, Sber, etc., all these companies got money from an oligarchy in Russian, and for them, Google and Apple are the leading competitors in the market. Many local clones of google search, mail, WhatsApp, youtube, twitch, TikTok, and other services, but they can't win the market because of US companies.
I think, in the future, Russia will ban US giants on their market. Everything goes to this.
I actually researched it. All sources that every story about 'they asked' cited in the end pointed to RosKomNadzor press release on their own website. And it is very well known that Russian government never lies.
There were no public confirmation from either Google or Apple that they did receive such request and refused to act on it, like they earlier did on LinkedIn.
You can read the legal part of Google Play, starting from section 8 and to the end. https://play.google.com/about/developer-distribution-agreeme...
TLDR: it's your responsibility to observe any regulation change and decision by google in your app. Suppose any content got banned on the platform by "applicable law" in any country's jurisdiction. In that case, you must apply this decision to your app because, legally, you must inherit all Google's decisions. If you don't do that, your app can get takedown without any notice.
I'm not sure when Google changed its policy about Crimea. I can verify it from my ex-company experience and legal department. Around 2015 our application got takedown without any details because we provide access to people who live in Crimea. Still, after our legal department contacted Google, they answered that it's our responsibility to observe these decisions and apply them.
Durov didn't wait for a takedown and applied app stores' decision to Telegram. Anyway, I think his message about this "silent day" is stupid, and the worst thing that can happen for Telegram is probably takedown for Russian users in stores for a few weeks.
I just checked now, and you have access to this bot if you are registered with any other phone number except these from Russia. My Ukraine and US numbers work fine with the bot.
UPD.: To clarify, I don't say everything happened because of this Google legal agreement, I'm not so into everything in Russia politics, Telegram, etc. It's my stupid opinion on the whole situation, with assumptions based on my experience. Take it with a grain of salt.
There was news about Russian investments in Telegram and agreements between Telegram and the Russian government, so maybe it's part of agreements, nothing more.
More frequently as a joke but sometimes you start thinking: "what if?"
Deleting Navalny's bot seems like a response to a threat from Apple and Google. To fight this, it would be great to abandon Apple and distribute all apps via Android APKs, circumventing the app stores. (Not gonna happen, I know)
First they came for the American opposition, then they came for the Russian opposition, then there was no opposition at all.