Recent reporting indicates that well-known foreign services appeared in the Russian Android app store RuStore, uploaded without the publishers’ consent. Kommersant notes this development and outlines the implications for the app ecosystem in Russia.
Journalists report that over 300 foreign applications are now available in RuStore, including widely used programs like TikTok, Opera Mini, and Skype Lite. The marketplace even lists several Microsoft services. This proliferation highlights how non-Russian apps can find a foothold in local distribution channels, sometimes ahead of official channels abroad.
In many cases, the foreign app publishers listed on RuStore rely on the Portuguese marketplace Aptoide, which enables developers to distribute their software across dozens of partner stores. By using Aptoide as a source, RuStore developers could sidestep the complaints of the original publishers, who halted activities in Russia following the start of the special economic measures. This relationship underscores how intermediary marketplaces can influence app availability and licensing in constrained markets, raising questions about control, compliance, and user safety.
Previously, it was reported that Chinese smartphone manufacturers such as Xiaomi, Tecno, Vivo, Realme, Infinix, and Itel have begun preloading the RuStore marketplace from VK on certain models that are already on sale. This move indicates a trend toward bundling app ecosystems directly with devices, potentially shaping user experience and app discovery right out of the box. Analysts point to the strategic value of preinstallations for expanding reach in a competitive market while also inviting scrutiny over software provenance and permissions. Source: Kommersant.