Wargaming Group’s Russian operator, Lesta Games, has found itself in hot water with the Russian government. The authorities are claiming that the company, previously owned by Wargaming, has been participating in extremist activities. The Russian state-owned RIA.ru has reported that the Prosecutor General’s office in Russia is taking action to halt the activities of Wargaming.net, owned by Malik Khatazhaev and Viktor Kisly, and seize Lesta’s shares as state revenue. This move comes after Wargaming pulled out of Russia and Belarus in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, leaving Lesta in charge of the popular game in Russia.
Even though there are two versions of the game – one for Russia and one for the rest of the world, the Russian State Media is alleging that Wargaming and Lesta are fronts for underground activities like fundraising for ambulances. However, it seems that Lesta Games has no connection to the charity project involving ambulances that Wargaming ran in 2023. Despite this, the Prosecutor General’s Office is accusing Kisly and Khatazhayev of being involved in extremist activities and has cited various articles as evidence.
In response to these allegations, Lesta Games has taken to Telegram to defend itself, stating that they have done nothing wrong and have nothing to fear. Wargaming, on the other hand, has distanced itself from Russia and made changes to its promotional materials and games to soften their imagery. The case brought by the Prosecutor General is scheduled to proceed in May, and the outcome remains to be seen.
PJ, a staff writer at Pure Xbox and Nintendo Life, has been playing video games since the 1980s and enjoys sharing his passion with others. While the situation with Lesta Games and Wargaming is still unfolding, it raises questions about the intersection of gaming and politics. Perhaps this controversy will prompt a closer look at the industry as a whole.
As the case progresses, it will be interesting to see how it impacts the gaming community and whether other companies will face similar scrutiny. The allegations against Lesta Games and Wargaming highlight the complexities of operating in a global market, where political tensions can have far-reaching consequences. Only time will tell how this situation will ultimately play out, but for now, it serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by companies in the gaming industry.
