By Paul Jouvenet, essayist and consultant in international affairs. Eurasia Business News, June 11, 2025. Article no.1552.
The State Duma of Russia has just adopted a new federal law establishing a national multifunctional digital service that will serve as a national messenger for correspondence, telephone calls, and as a platform to receive public and commercial services. This new service will be based on Russian software and integrated with the government services portal Gosuslugi, enabling users to verify identity, present digital documents, register transactions, and certify documents with electronic signatures.
The law requires that the operator of the messenger be a Russian legal entity with exclusive rights to the software platform, ensuring full domestic control and security. The government will designate the organization responsible for launching and operating the service. The messenger aims to create a trusted, secure environment for communication and service access, and will also include educational services and institutional chats.
The Federation Council Committee will consider the amendments on June 17.
This initiative aligns with Russia’s broader strategy to replace foreign messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram with a state-backed platform by 2026, mandating its use across federal and regional government bodies and state corporations. The new service is expected to offer better functionality and security than current Western options, supporting Russia’s digital sovereignty and national security goals.
This new legislation marks a significant step toward consolidating Russia’s digital communications and public service access into a single, state-controlled national messenger platform.
Our community already has nearly 150,000 readers!
Subscribe to our Telegram channel
Follow us on Telegram, Facebook and Twitter
© Copyright 2025 – Eurasia Business News. Article no. 1552.
Eurasia Business News 