The Russian government has seized the assets of Lesta Studio, the local company that owned assets that previously belonged to Wargaming in the country.
State-owned media outlet RIA Novosti reports – as spotted by VGC – that the Deputy Prosecutor General of Russia has moved to absorb the company's assets over claims that Wargaming CEO and founder Victor Kislyi and Lesta Studio boss Malik Khatazhaev are "part of an association that carries out extremist activities".
The court also cited headlines about Wargaming's suite of titles, including the fact that Ukrainian soldiers have been playing them in the wake of Russia's invasion of their country.
Wargaming pulled out of Russia and Belarus in April 2022 and sold all of its local assets to Lesta Studio; following this, the two have no connection to one another. The latter operates Mir Tankov, a game similar to, but distinct from, World of Tanks.
"Wargaming made a strategic exit from the Russian and Belarusian markets three years ago," a Wargaming rep told VGC.
"The company disposed of its business in Russia and Belarus to the local management at zero cost and on a debt-free, cash-free basis, with no consideration to take it back. Wargaming doesn’t have any assets or business interests in Russia and Belarus."
