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The Russian government has reportedly seized the assets of Lesta Studios after its former owner, Wargaming, expressed support for Ukraine.
State-owned media outlet RIA Novosti reported that Russia is moving to fully absorb Lesta Studios, which separated from Wargaming in 2022.
“Statement of claim by the Deputy Prosecutor General of Russia to prohibit the activities of the association consisting of V.V. Kisly and M.A. Khatazhaev and to transfer shares in the authorised capital of the defendants to the state,” reads the documents.
In a statement sent to Video Games Chronicle, Wargaming said that it fully exited the Russian and Belarusian markets three years ago, handing its operations to local management at no cost and without any ongoing ties or plans to return.
“Wargaming doesn’t have any assets or business interests in Russia and Belarus,” said the company.
Studio take-over
Russia’s prosecutor general claims Lesta’s head of games Malik Khatazhaev and Wargaming owner Victor Kislyi are part of an “extremist” group.
The prosecutor also cited headlines about Ukrainian soldiers playing Wargaming games and the company’s Ukraine-focused charity work as justification for the asset seizure.
After it ceased operations in Russia and Belarus in 2022, Wargaming dismissed its creative director, Sergey Burkatovskiy, in the same year for publicly supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
