PC: The Indian Express

Due to Moscow’s parallel import plan, Russians will be able to purchase the new Apple iPhone 14 despite the US tech corporation having left the country, a senior government official said the RIA Novosti news agency on Thursday.

Russia exposed the ruse in March when it allowed stores to import items from other nations without the owner of the trademark’s consent.

Trade and Industry Minister Denis Manturov responded when asked if the new iPhone, which Apple (AAPL) announced on Wednesday, will be imported under the programme: “Why not? If people want to buy these phones, certainly. There will be the opportunity.”

A week after Russia invaded Ukraine in March, Apple stopped selling new products there. Despite this, Russian retailers continue to sell off their remaining stock of older versions and import the newest technology, thus the iPhone, MacBook, and other Apple devices are still available in Russian stores.

On Thursday morning, the new iPhone 14 variants were already available for pre-order on the Russian mobile network MTS. The 128 GB version is priced from 84,990 roubles ($1,398).

Delivery might take up to 120 days, according to MTS, and it reserved the right to revoke orders if it had trouble importing the goods.

A request for comment from Apple was not immediately complied with.
The scheme, which covers Western goods ranging from high-end clothing to automobiles, might exceed $16 billion in value this year, or around 4% of Russia’s imports, according to Manturov, who is also the deputy prime minister.