Often called "Russia's Facebook", VK said a beta version of the store, named RuStore, would be available for Android users from Wednesday.
The two largest app stores in the world, Apple and Google, have limited access for Russian users as a response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Russia is pushing for the rapid development of home-made digital alternatives, accelerating its campaign to exert control over the online space by limiting access to Meta's Instagram and Facebook, Twitter and Google's News platform.
VK is partly owned by Gazprom Media and owns a host of online services from social media platforms to food delivery, emerging as a leader in the race to replace Western services.
"RuStore was created with the support of Russia's ministry of digital development, communications and mass media, as well as Russian technology company Yandex, the country's largest lender Sberbank, and cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Lab", Reuters reported.
"Creating a Russian app store is an essential task, dictated by market conditions" said Maksut Shadaev, minister of communications and media, in a statement announcing the launch.
The tech company said more than 100 applications were available on the store at launch, including some government services, and that more were being added every day.
"I am sure that RuStore will be in demand among both users and developers. It has everything it needs to become the largest Russian app store," said VK CEO Vladimir Kiriyenko.
Russia witnessed an exodus of IT specialists in the first weeks of what the Kremlin calls "special military operation" in Ukraine. The government promised income tax breaks and preferential loans for tech companies, as well as a deferral of military service for employees, in order to keep them in Russia.
"Politicians are also encouraging users to switch to domestic providers", Reuters reported.
Image Source: Pexels
0 Comments