Russia tries to confiscate assets of World of Tanks owners: understand the case

The government of Russia has taken actions to confiscate the assets of executives linked to the popular World of Tanks, alleging involvement in extremist activities related to support for Ukraine. The information was disclosed by the state agency RIA.ru.

The accusation directly affects Viktor Kisly, owner of the original developer Wargaming, and Malik Khatazhaev, owner of the current Russian operator Lesta Games. After the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February 2022, Wargaming announced its exit from the region and the division of its operations, transferring the offices from Minsk, Moscow, and Saint Petersburg to the newly created Lesta Games.

Currently, there are two versions of World of Tanks and its derivatives: an international one, under the command of Wargaming, and a Russian one, managed by Lesta Games. However, the Russian authorities are not differentiating between the two operations in the process.

The main evidence presented is a charitable campaign launched by Wargaming to raise funds for the purchase of ambulances for Ukraine. Although Lesta Games was not involved in the initiative, this action is cited as proof that the companies do not support Russia's "special operation," justifying the possible expropriation of their assets.

In response, Lesta Games published a statement via Telegram, reproduced by the RBC website:

"The company operates in full compliance with the legislation of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus, so we have no reason for concern or to hide information. We have not violated anything and have nothing to fear."

The Russian move comes at a time of increasing regulatory tensions with foreign technology and entertainment companies. This legal dispute raises important questions about the risks faced by gaming companies that have chosen to withdraw from Russia since 2022, following trends seen in sectors such as social media and technology, already affected by sanctions and forced nationalizations.