A memorial in honor of Apple founder Steve Jobs in St. Petersburg, Russia was torn down soon after the company's current CEO Tim Cook announced to the public that he is gay.

The 6-foot tall memorial in the shape of an iPhone was torn down by a group of Russian companies not long after Cook's announcement. The memorial was built in honor of Steve Jobs in January 2013.

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The West European Financial Union, also known as ZEFS, announced the removal of the memorial on Monday, mentioning that they must abide by a law against "gay propaganda."

According to ZEFS, law prohibits gay propaganda and any other abnormal sexual desires "among minors". Because the memorial was located near a college in St. Petersburg with access to young students, ZEFS was required to take the memorial down by law.

However, it is unclear in what way the memorial to Jobs is "gay propanda," considering that the late Apple founder, who left behind a wife and four children, wasn't gay. 

Although President Vladimir Putin claims Russia doesn't discriminate toward gay people, he signed the law last year that prohibits any spread of "gay propaganda" among minors in an effort to promote  "traditional values."

According to reports, Russian Politician Vitaly Milonov (who is anti-gay rights) plans to take the situation even further, as he calls for Tim Cook to be permanently banned from being able to enter Russia altogether.

The move to tear down Jobs' memorial has sparked controversy among many Apple consumers. But head of ZEFS, Maxim Dolgopolov, doesn't regret his decision to remove the memorial.

"Sin should not become the norm. There is nothing to do in Russia for those who intend to violate our laws," he said.

TagsApple Inc., Steve Jobs, Tim Cook, iPhone Steve Jobs memorial, ZEFS