Artem Sheikin, a senator and Deputy Chairman of the Council for the Development of the Digital Economy under the Federation Council, argued that Russia should ban the sale of iPhones if Apple does not enable applications to be installed via the RuStore platform. This stance highlights a growing push in Russia to align mobile software ecosystems with domestic distribution channels, a topic that has sparked debate about consumer choice, national digital sovereignty, and the practical implications for global tech companies operating in the country.
Earlier, a bill was introduced in the State Duma aimed at preventing discrimination against Russian applications in foreign app marketplaces like the App Store and Google Play. The proposed legislation would require that all smartphones sold in Russia come with RuStore as the mandatory preinstalled store and that apps and updates be delivered through RuStore, effectively standardizing the domestic ecosystem and streamlining payments through that single channel.
Sheikin stressed that if RuStore cannot be installed on Apple devices, strict measures should be considered, including limiting the sale of those devices. At present, Android-based smartphones can natively support a domestic app store, while Apple devices do not offer a built-in equivalent. The senator argued that foreign corporations must comply with Russian laws, and noncompliance could lead to restrictions on their products in the Russian market.
The official underlined that the bill is designed to safeguard the rights of Russian citizens and to ensure that manufacturers or sellers provide for the installation of a domestic application store on smartphones sold in the country. This approach is framed as part of broader efforts to strengthen digital independence while maintaining consumer access to modern mobile technologies.
In related developments, it was reported that the price of flagship iPhone models in Russia had recently fallen by a notable margin, a reflection of dynamic market conditions and competitive factors influencing consumer costs amid regulatory and geopolitical considerations.