The Tagansky District Court in Moscow has ruled to transfer ownership of Lesta Games, the Russian publisher of World of Tanks and World of Warships, to the state. Despite this, the company assures users that the games will continue to operate normally and that they are not considered extremists.

The court’s decision involves transferring the shares of LLC Lesta, LLC Lesta Games Moscow, and LLC Lesta Games Agency to state revenue. The ruling also initially prohibited activities linked to Wargaming founder Viktor Kisly and Lesta owner Malik Khatazhaev, labeling them as extremists and annulling their rights to the Lesta group.

Lesta Games maintains that the court’s decision does not apply to the company itself, its partners, or its users. The company’s press service stated that they are preparing an appeal and consider the ruling unfair. They emphasize that the company was not recognized as extremist and will continue to operate smoothly under temporary state management.

Malik Khatazhaev, head of Lesta Games, disputes accusations of involvement in extremist activities alongside Viktor Kisly and denies any contact with Kisly since August 2023. Previously, assets of Lesta Games were seized by court order, with bailiffs gaining access to software and servers based on accusations of “hostile actions against the Russian Federation.”

Lesta Games has affirmed the transparency of its business, pointing to publicly available financial statements and tax payments. Anton Gorelkin, a State Duma deputy, has also reassured users that they will not face accusations of supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine for playing World of Tanks and World of Warships.