This is how the Russians manage to buy the iPhone 14 and other embargoed products

Many North American and European devices have stopped being sold in Russia after the invasion of Ukraine. But whoever wants to buy them can do so without too many problems.

yes today a Russian citizen wants to buy a iPhone 14, you don’t have to do anything weird or illegal. At least, within Russian law. You just have to go to the Russian telephone company MTS, and buy it. Of course, with special conditions.

With the invasion of Ukraine last March, all North American and European companies left Russia, or temporarily closed. But the main technological products have been able to be bought without any problem. And for those who don’t, Russia has passed laws that are incompatible with international law.

For example, software piracy is no longer prohibited in the country. It is allowed to pirate operating systems, applications and games, which cannot be purchased.

In the case of hardware, the Russian state legalized parallel imports in May. This is the name given to the possibility of importing technological and other products, without the need for permission from the manufacturer.

Russian companies buy the products in other ways, even if the manufacturer does not want to sell its products in the country. It is an illegal action under international law, but Russia allows it. And it is a market that works very well.

according to account Business Insiderthe Minister of Commerce and Industry, Denis Manturov, has unequivocally confirmed that parallel imports moved 6,500 million dollars just last August.

In the case of the iPhone 14, Denis Manturov himself has confessed that “Why not? If consumers want to buy these phones, yes. there will be that opportunity“. But certainly not PVP.

Not being able to buy from the manufacturer, these parallel imports are carried out through intermediaries, so the price is higher. For example, the Russian operator MTS sells the iPhone 14 with prices starting at 1,400 euros. Here in Spain the cheapest iPhone costs 1,009 euros.

In addition, deliveries are not immediate either. With the iPhone 14 you have to put yourself on a waiting list, and it could take up to 3 months to get one.