"Edward never uses an iPhone; he's got a simple phone," said the lawyer of Snowden, Anatoly Kucherena, in an interview with the Russian media company RIA Novosti.
Here is what REALLY is going on. Note that this did not really come directly from Snowden. . . but rather from Anatoly Kucherena, Snowden's Russian government appointed attorney, through an interview with a Russian media company RIA Novosti. . . which under Putin is back to being the same as Pravda! was under the old Soviet Union, a state directed propaganda mill. The distinction is important.
Why do I say this is important?
It is because Putin and the Russian government are using Apple as a proxy in its battle with the West. Back in November they started with a shot across the bow . . . they demanded that all data in smartphones in Russia must be stored in servers in Russia. The only company that edict affected would be Apple and Apple iPhones and iPads with the iCloud storage systems with their automatic iCloud linking. . . although there was some possibility it might have some effect on how Facebook might work in Russia. Apple's servers for Western Russia are in Northern Europe. When Apple informed the Russian government it would take time to build server facilities in Russia, Russia responded with an outright ban on sales of iPhones, iPads, and other iOS devices effective January 1, 2015.
Apple iPhone and iPad 'Banned in Russia' from 2015 "
Simultaneously with the Russian Government went on a campaign for Russian people to use home grown smartphones. . . and the Russian government ordered the tearing down of the memorial statue of Steve Jobs erected in St. Petersburg just a year ago under the pretext that it was about Tim Cook admitting he was gay.
Russian Officials Tear Down Steve Jobs Statue After Current CEO Tim Cook Comes Out
In December, with the world oil prices hitting new lows, the Ruble was crashing and Apple raised Russia App Store and iTunes prices by 35% to reflect the deflation of the currency in Russian Federation. Apple also shut down the Apple Online Store and then reopened it with 25% higher prices.
Apple Raises IPhone Price 25% In Russia After Ruble Drops
Russia was NOT pleased.
Russia orders the sale of the Steve Jobs statue at auction to raise funds. LOL!
Shortly after the 25% increase, Apple shut down the Russian App Store and iTunes store again, and when it re-opened, prices of music and apps had increased by 100% because the Ruble had devalued so much more in just a month.
Apple Forced To Raise App Prices By 100% In Russia Days After Stopping Online Sales
The war between Russia and Apple keeps escalating. . . with the Russian government pressuring its citizens to buy homegrown cellular phones. . . and bad mouthing western products. What Russia does NOT need is for Rubles to be spent on imported items. . . especially expensive ones such as iPhones.
Then last week, Apple, as required by our State Department, cut off the iPhone developers in Crimea.
Apple Cuts Off Developers In Crimea Following U.S. Sanctions"
And then, shortly afterwards, Apple dropped the other shoe, required by our State Department and stopped all product sales in Crimea:
Apple pulls switch on products in Crimea over US-Russia standoff"
further tweaking Putin and Russia!
How could Putin and the Russians strike back at Apple and the West in this economic war without economic weapons?
Striking at Apple would be easy by striking at the integrity of their flagship product's sales by impugning its security and safety for its customers. Strike a propaganda blow at the West's weakest public relations failure of the past decade, the NSA scandal. . . and they can do it with one blow. This is very well thought out attack with the SNOWDEN BOMB!
This reported statement from Snowden is exactly the kind of thing that plays into both memes. . . a slap at Apple and builds the FUD in potential Russian iPhone customers about buying a phone that may have built in spyware, literally a twofer propaganda ploy. It literally is brilliant when you think about it.
