The shares of the executives of Wargaming and Lesta Games may be confiscated by the Russian government, Engadget reports, citing Russian media.
Lesta Games CEO Malik Khatazhayev and Wargaming CEO Viktor Kysly are accused of extremist activities due to their support for the Ukrainian branch of Wargaming. The Prosecutor General wants to seize all the shares of the company executives.
In 2022, following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, World of Tanks development was split off when Wargaming left its offices in Russia and Belarus. The offices in Russia and Belarus instead went to Lesta Games.
In 2023, Wargaming launched a World of Tanks campaign to raise funds for medical aid in Ukraine, which raised UAH 39 million. The Russian government viewed this as anti-Russian extremist activity. The accusations against Lesta Games are puzzling, as the company is accused of the same thing.
Lesta Games said it was acting in accordance with Russian law, was not violating any rules, and had no reason to be concerned. Wargaming, for its part, did not comment on the situation.