US tech giant Apple has paid a fine of 1.2 billion roubles ($13.65 million) imposed by Russia's FAS antitrust agency for the company's alleged abuse of its dominant market position concerning in-app payments.

According to Reuters, the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) reported on Monday that Apple had paid the fine on January 19, with the funds transferred to Russia's federal budget.

Apple Disagrees With Russia Ruling

Apple has previously disagreed with the FAS ruling that the company's distribution of apps through its iOS operating system gave its products a competitive advantage.

This is not Apple's first time paying the Russian government over an antitrust case. Last February, the FAS said the US tech giant had paid a fine of about $12.1 million in another antitrust lawsuit alleging the company's abuse of its dominance in the mobile apps market.

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Dispute of Russia With Foreign Tech Firms

Russia has been engaged in ongoing disputes with foreign technology firms, particularly regarding Moscow's perceived unlawful content and non-compliance to store user data locally.

The disputes reportedly further intensified after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. After the conflict in Ukraine started, Apple halted all product sales in Russia and limited its Apple Pay service in the country.

The recent payment of the fine indicates Apple's efforts to navigate regulatory challenges and maintain its position in the Russian market amid geopolitical tensions. 

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