Page 153 - RusRPTSept22

the European Council lift its “discriminatory and disproportionate” sanctions against him. The lawsuit was first reported by TV channel RTVI on Monday evening. Khudaverdyan quit as Yandex executive director and deputy CEO in March after being hit with an EU asset freeze and travel ban. At the time, Brussels accused Yandex, often dubbed “Russia’s Google,” of manipulating search results and “hiding information” from the Russian public. But, in the court filing, Khudaverdyan argued that he “does not support the actions of the Government of the Russian Federation concerning interventions in Ukraine.”
Russia’s antitrust approved recent Yandex and VK’s deal on August 30. This concerns VK getting Yandex.News and Zen services from Yandex in exchange for foodtech service Delivery Club, for which the companies announced the binding agreement last week. The antitrust service approved the deal with certain limitations for Yandex, which is already a strong player in Russia’s food delivery. These limitations include Yandex for three years keeping unchanged the structure and size of the commission it charges its food delivery partners, it not giving benefits to the restaurants and other partners using its foodtech service Yandex.Eats, and it not taking measures aimed at restaurants using Delivery Club or other foodtech services less.
● VK
Leading Russian Internet company VK posted net profit of RUB3.616bn ($9.8mn) in April–June against a net loss of RUB4.977bn a year earlier, Prime reported on August 11.
The adjusted revenue rose by 4% to RUB31.160bn while overall revenue increased by 11% to RUB32.836bn. The company's EBITDA decreased by 37% to RUB4.206bn and the adjusted net loss widened to RUB3.435bn from RUB2.232bn a year earlier.
“Given the current level of visibility and uncertainty, the company refrains from providing forward guidance and outlook,” VK said, as cited by Prime.
● Ozon
A fire broke out at Ozon's fulfilment centre in the Moscow region on August 3. The fire at the Ozon fulfilment centre in the city of Istra, Moscow region, covered 55k sqm of the total 76k sqm warehouse space, and the roof collapsed over the remaining area, Interfax reports referring to Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations. Ozon advised sellers to use other two closest fulfilment facilities instead – also in the Moscow region (Khorugvino; 93k sqm space) and a further away facility in Tver (56k sqm), according to Interfax. The Istra fulfilment centre is insured, according to Russia’s Insurers’ Union quoted in Interfax – Rb6bn cover for the building and Rb11bn for its contents.
153 RUSSIA Country Report September 2022 www.intellinews.com