MOSCOW, April 7. /TASS/. App Store and Google Play may soon forbid downloading phone apps in Russia, therefore it is necessary to develop a domestic platform, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said, speaking before the State Duma Thursday.

"Using this opportunity, I would like to make a call: guys, developers, programmers, IT folks - let us make our own ecosystem. We have everything for that. There are elements of this ecosystem that need to be perfected. We must make our own online store, because App Store and Google Play may practically prohibit us from downloading apps soon," Mishustin said.

The Ministry of Digital Development and Russia’s leading companies are already working on an alternative store for Android, which should be launched in mid-2022.

The Prime Minister also underscored that Russia provided IT specialists with every opportunity to work inside the country.

"Do not fear anything; do not believe anyone in this regard. Everything is going to be alight here, everything will be reliable, and you will be able to calmly work for your country, your company, earn good salaries and live here comfortably," Mishustin promised.