The Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation published an official list of orders resulting from a business meeting at the end of May, which directly aim to reduce Western digital influence. A key order mandates institutions to present specific proposals for limiting communication services from foreign countries by September 1.
During the meeting, Vladimir Putin made a direct call to "strangle" international platforms like Zoom and Microsoft, demonstrating a firm position against foreign technological solutions. Parallel to the political rhetoric, Russian authorities are actively developing national alternatives.
Legislative initiatives include creating their own messenger, whose functionality strongly resembles the Chinese model of digital control. Bloomberg analysts point out similarities with WeChat - a platform defined by Wall Street Journal as a key tool for public oversight.
On July 15, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin officialized "Max" as a national communication channel, taking specific commitments for its development. In his order, he is obliged to present a detailed report to Putin on the project's progress by August 15.
These steps clearly demonstrate the Russian leadership's desire for technological sovereignty and control over the digital communication space.