OREANDA-NEWS The Russian authorities decided to make it mandatory to install a domestic operating system (OS) on all imported laptops and personal computers as an additional one, that is, to impose a ban on the sale of equipment where only Windows or macOS is installed. Kommersant writes about the upcoming regulation, which is being developed by the Ministry of Finance, with reference to a source in the government.

According to the source of the publication, the document may be submitted to the government this quarter. Another source clarified that retailers want to be responsible for the process. Currently, the responsibility for installing Russian programs and applications lies with the manufacturer, so sellers can absolve themselves of responsibility.

Kirill Nikitin, the head of the Vegas Lex law firm's directorate, suggested that in the new conditions, companies will have to install Russian-made operating systems on their own under the threat of withdrawal of goods.

In the middle of last year, the Ministry of Finance announced the idea of making it mandatory to install the Russian operating system on those devices that are shipped to Russia without an OS at all. The reason was the increase in such supplies against the background of Western sanctions.

Representative of RATEK (unites the largest Russian sellers) Anton Guskov pointed out that the norms currently being developed will have a bad impact on the market. In his opinion, the devices will have to be sold more expensive, and besides, it is impossible to install a second system on some laptops and PCs. The source of the publication in a large foreign manufacturer clarified that none of the leading vendors will be able to pre-install the Russian OS, so their share may decrease.