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Kremlin explains why state-run firms have to shift to Russian software

Earlier on Monday, media reported that Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister Anton Siluanov had signed a directive requesting state-run companies move to locally-produced software by 2021

© Anton Novoderezhkin/TASS

MOSCOW, December 17. /TASS/. Russian state-run companies have to shift to the locally-produced software because of the hostile atmosphere in the world, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.

"First of all, this is a matter of cybersecurity and cyber-sovereignty [switching to domestic software]. We live in a time when they can turn off for the sake of politics or voice threats to turn off entire global services. Of course, this is unacceptable and living peacefully in such a hostile environment naturally requires self-sufficiency in key areas," the Kremlin representative explained.

"That is why the shift to domestic software is necessary," he stressed.

"Can domestic software now completely replace [foreign]? I don’t think so," Peskov noted.

He expressed confidence that the companies will manage to shift to domestic software this but did not rule out some difficulties in the process.

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"This (shift) will be a long process due to the complexity and due to the fact that we need to improve our software in some segments. Although certain steps are being taken to determine the deadline," the presidential spokesman said, adding that the transition to the Russian software is certainly possible.

Earlier on Monday, Vedomosti business daily reported that Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister Anton Siluanov had signed a directive requesting state-run companies move to locally-produced software by 2021.

Plans are in store that the switch to locally-made software will concern companies, in which the state is the main shareholder and has the majority votes on the board of directors.

In July 2016, Igor Shuvalov, First Deputy Prime Minister at that time, signed a similar directive obliging state-run companies to prioritize Russian software in procurements.

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