Russia declares World of Tanks creators extremists — assets confiscated

Russia declares World of Tanks creators extremists — assets confiscated - Zamin.uz, 03.06.2025

A major incident in Russia's IT sector: the company that created World of Tanks has been officially nationalized. This was reported by multiple local and international media outlets. The Moscow City Court recognized the company “Lesta Games” and its founder Malik Khatazhaev, along with Wargaming

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TL;DR: Russia’s Moscow City Court has labeled Lesta Games (the studio behind “World of Tanks”) and its founders—Malik Khatazhaev and Viktor Kisly—as “extremists,” seizing all their assets for the state. The secretive trial hinged on accusations that Wargaming (which split from Lesta in 2022) backed Ukraine’s military, even though Khatazhaev insists he’s pro-Russian.

Despite Russia’s top IT groups petitioning Putin to halt the takeover, the court’s decision stands. The move underscores how Russia’s tech scene is increasingly at the mercy of political and geopolitical battles.