The Russian government is asking that Apple and SAP turn over their source code for inspection on the grounds that Western spooks might be using back doors to spy on Putin's empire.

According to the Russian government, they claim that the proposal for the source code of both companies is to ensure the rights of consumers and corporate users are protected in terms of privacy of personal data, as well as to ensure state security. Since it is highly unlikely that Apple or SAP will be turning their source codes over, it is almost certain that they will be banned from Mother Russia.

In a statement made by Russia’s Communications Minister, Nikolai Nikiforov, “Edward Snowden’s revelations in 2013 and U.S. intelligence services’ public statements about the strengthening of surveillance of Russia in 2014 have raised a serious question of trust in foreign software and hardware.” 

The Soviets under communism spend a lot of time cloning Apple gear in Bulgarian manufacturing plants. They were pretty nifty machines and did not catch fire nearly as much as the later Apple IIs. Russia is not a big market for Apple anyway. People don’t have much money and far too much common sense.