Yandex, which continues to operate in the Republic of Moldova, is being monitored by security and law enforcement agencies, Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Bolea said when asked about security risks associated with the Russian platform, the location of its servers and reports that it had failed to pay taxes.
The issue was raised in the context of information presented by journalists, according to which the company recorded a turnover of approximately €7 million last year without paying taxes in the Republic of Moldova. Asked how the authorities explain Yandex continuing to operate in the country, given that several European states imposed sanctions on the company following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Vladimir Bolea said it was being monitored by security services.
The official was also asked about reports that the platform collects personal data on people travelling and that the company’s servers are located in Russia.
In this context, Bolea referred to statements by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy regarding the impact of strikes on servers located in Ukraine on the activities of bot networks. “We will analyse the situation,” the Deputy Prime Minister said, without providing details about any potential measures that could be taken against the company.
Asked whether the authorities had ignored potential risks by allowing the platform to operate in the Republic of Moldova, Bolea reiterated that it was under the supervision of security services, alongside other companies that could have an impact on various activities and projects.