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Recent reports from Russian media outlets, including RIA and RBC, indicate that top executives from Wargaming and Lesta Games, the companies behind World of Tanks, may face government action that could lead to their stakes being seized by the Russian authorities.
Malik Khatazhaev, head of Lesta Games, and Viktor Kisly, head of Wargaming, are under scrutiny from the Russian Prosecutor General. They reportedly face allegations of extremist activities stemming from Wargaming’s public support for Ukraine. This action has triggered moves to confiscate their shares in the respective firms.
The development of World of Tanks underwent a significant change in 2022 when Wargaming exited its operations in Russia and Belarus, assigning the development of the game’s Russian version to Lesta Games. This shift occurred concurrently with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In response, Wargaming launched initiatives within World of Tanks in 2023 aimed at raising funds for medical assistance in Ukraine. The Russian government has since categorized this humanitarian effort as an act of anti-Russian extremism, although the exact reasons for targeting Lesta Games remain ambiguous, as the company still operates under the Prosecutor General’s jurisdiction.
While neither company has offered a formal statement, Lesta Games addressed the situation through comments on a company Telegram channel, as reported by RBC. They asserted, “The company works in full compliance with the legislation of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus, so we have no grounds for any concerns or concealment of information. We have not violated anything and we have nothing to fear.”
Source
tech.yahoo.com