Russia Struggles to Replicate Google Play in Tech Analogue Drive
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Loading... - Elsie Fisher
- 14 Jul 2022
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Amid Western sanctions and a flood of Western companies exiting the Russian market, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin made an emotional appeal to the country’s IT community in April, urging them “not to fear anything,” stay in Russia and help to build a new sovereign internet.
Vladimir Zykov was one of those who answered the call.
“We heard Mishustin, and we did it," said Zykov, director of projects for IT firm Digital Platforms, who was behind the creation of NashStore, a self-styled Russian alternative to Google Play.
NashStore is one of a host of domestic tech analogues seeking to replace Western firms forced out of Russia by Kremlin bans or international sanctions.
Experts, however, are skeptical that domestic alternatives are viable in the long term — or whether Russia’s current IT sector can muster the know-how to create a “sovereign internet” that can operate on its own terms.
“It's just a bunch of bull**** propaganda,” said Mikhail Klimarev, the head of Russia’s Internet Protection Society, which is linked to opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
Other analogues that have been set up include RuTube, Russia’s answer to YouTube; Tamtam, a copy of messaging app Telegram; and Rossgram, an app that describes itself as Russia’s version of Instagram. All have experienced significant teething problems.
While Google Play still operates in Russia, Alphabet, which owns Google Play, suspended all payment-based services for its platforms in Russia — meaning Russian users have been unable to pay for apps since March. Apps for sanctioned Russian companies are also not available.
Mishustin ordered Russia's Ministry of Digital Development, Communication, and Mass Media to create a domestic equivalent of Google Play by June 1.
That, said Zykov, opened the door for NashStore (“Our Store”), which is described as “sanction-proof” on its website. Read More…
