Russia statue dismantled after Apple CEO comes out
By Associated Press
Nov 3, 2014 12:37 PM CST
FILE- In this file photo dated Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013, a girl touches the screen showing a portrait of Steve Jobs on the recently erected memorial to late Apple Corp. co-founder in the courtyard of the Techno Park of the St. Petersburg National Research University of Information Technologies, Mechanics...   (Associated Press)

MOSCOW (AP) — A two-meter statue of an iPhone on a university campus in St. Petersburg has been taken down in response to last week's announcement by the CEO of Apple that he is gay.

In a statement, ZEFS, which according to its website owns construction, advertising, and finance enterprises in St. Petersburg, describes Tim Cook's revelation "a public call to sodomy."

ZEFS said Monday it was taking down the statue because it violated Russia's controversial law protecting minors from homosexual propaganda. The law has been condemned by critics as a means of repressing sexual minorities in the country.

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.