This article started that rumour due to an error: https://elpais.com/tecnologia/2012/07/03/actualidad/1341340111_145629.html https://elpais.com/tecnologia/2012/

This article started that rumour due to an error: https://elpais.com/tecnologia/2012/07/03/actualidad/1341340111_145629.html https://elpais.com/tecnologia/2012/07/03/actualidad/13413401... Towards the end, they have clarification that states: "Technological development is mainly done at the WhatsApp headquarters in Mountain View and not in Russia as the information suggests. There the company maintains a 'small technical team'."