Russian tech developers are working on a rival to Alphabet Inc’s (GOOGL.O) Google Play store, which they hope to launch on May 9, which is a national holiday in Russia commemorating the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, according to the organisation behind the initiative, which was announced on Tuesday.
YouTube and Google Play banned all payment-based services in Russia this month, including subscriptions, as a result of Western sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s activities in Ukraine, which have begun to cause banking difficulties in the nation.
According to Vladimir Zykov, project director at Digital Platforms, a non-profit organisation devoted to digital development, “Unfortunately, Russians are no longer able to purchase apps through Google Play in the usual course of business, and developers have lost their source of income.”
“It is for this reason that we have established a Russian app store, NashStore,” Zykov said in a press release.
According to the release, NashStore, which translates as “OurStore” in English, will service Android mobile devices and should eventually be compatible with Russian Mir bank cards, according to the statement.
Each year on May 9, Russia puts on a patriotic display of raw military force, culminating in a parade through Moscow’s Red Square to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s triumph over Nazi Germany during World War II.
