Over the past 18 months, tens of millions of Russians have been forced to install a new app on their phones – a violet-blue(紫蓝色的) button designed for messaging(收发消息) and payments, called Max.
过去18个月里，数千万俄罗斯人被迫在手机上安装了一款新应用——一个紫蓝色的按钮，用于收发消息和支付，名叫Max。
Authorities have tout(吹捧、兜售)ed it as a patriotic(爱国的) alternative to Telegram and WhatsApp; Russian glitterati(名流、上流社会人士) have promoted it in rap videos and comic routines(喜剧段子). This summer, it became the country’s most-used messaging app.
当局将其吹捧为Telegram和WhatsApp的爱国替代品；俄罗斯名流则在说唱视频和喜剧段子里为它站台。今年夏天，它成了全国使用量最大的通讯应用。
It is a product of VKontakte, the Russian social media company, which is deeply entangled with the Russian state.(它是俄罗斯社交媒体公司VKontakte的产品，而这家公司与俄罗斯政府关系盘根错节。) The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, reportedly owns an indirect stake(股份、利害关系) in Max.
它是俄罗斯社交媒体公司VKontakte的产品，而这家公司与俄罗斯政府关系盘根错节。据报道，俄罗斯总统弗拉基米尔·普京间接持有Max的股份。