Russia Takes Steps To Implement Import Substitution Plan For Software

On June 16, 2015, the Russian Duma—the lower house of the Russian parliament—approved Legislative Bill No. 764677 in a third (and likely final) reading, taking another step forward on an import substitution strategy for software used in Russia.¹ Earlier this year on April 1, 2015, the Ministry of Communications and Mass Media ("Minkomsviaz" or the Ministry) issued Order No. 96 "On the adoption of plan for import substitution of software" ("Order No. 96"). The Russian government also drafted and published a regulation on the public procurement of software for federal and municipal needs in February 2015 (the "draft Software Procurement Regulation").

These steps are aimed at implementing the Russian government's strategy of preference for domestic IT products in federal government and municipal procurement programs. The stated goal is to support Russia's domestic IT companies and, ultimately, to reduce the dominant position of foreign (primarily U.S.) software in