Russians will be able to buy the new Apple iPhone 14 despite the US tech company being forced out of the country thanks to Moscow’s parallel import scheme, a senior government official told the RIA Novosti news agency on Thursday.
Russia announced the scheme in March when it authorized sellers to import products from abroad without the trademark owner’s permission, Reuters reports.
Asked whether the new iPhone, unveiled by Apple on Wednesday, will be imported under the scheme, Trade and Industry Minister Denis Manturov said: “Why not? If consumers want to buy these phones, yes. There will be a chance.”
Apple halted sales of new products in Russia in March, a week after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, although iPhones, MacBooks and other Apple goods have remained available in Russian stores as retailers sell off their remaining stock of the models old and get the newly launched devices through the import scheme.
Russian mobile network MTS on Thursday morning was already selling the new iPhone 14 models by pre-order. Prices start at 84,990 rubles ($1,398) for the 128GB version.
MTS said delivery could take up to 120 days and reserves the right to cancel orders if it faces difficulties importing the products.
Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.