Yandex negotiating sale of Yango Israel taxi service

According to Israeli outlet Calcalist, Yandex is in negotiations to sell it’s taxi service Yango Israel. The move is likely a result of an order from the Russian government that will apparently allow the FSB to gain round-the-clock access to user data collected by Yango, beginning on September 1, 2023. As reported by a joint investigation between Meduza and Finnish journalist Jussi Konttinen, the order has already been signed by the country’s prime minister, Mikhail Mishustin.

Calcalist writes, “the company is seeking to escape the authoritarian grasp by selling itself to an Israeli entity.” Such a move, they say, would make the company more competitive in the Israeli market. However, Yandex denies any such negotiations are taking place.

The Yango Israel brand also contains Yango Wind scooter rental service and Yango Deli delivery service.

In response to Meduza’s investigation, Yandex wrote that, “the legal regulations of the Russian Federation have no jurisdiction over the international ride-hailing business of Yango and do not apply to Yango users as they make trips and use the app outside of Russia. This will not change after the 1st of September.”