In a significant move, VK, the prominent Russian technology firm, has announced its decision to divest 100% of RuStore, the state-supported app marketplace, to Dmitry Pankrushev, the CEO of its developing company, Mnogo Prilozheniy. This announcement came on Thursday, coinciding with the European Union’s recent sanctions against VK due to its involvement in the development of the Kremlin-endorsed messaging application, Max.
Background of RuStore
RuStore was established as a domestic alternative for Android users in response to the limitations imposed by Apple and Google following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The Russian government mandated that RuStore be pre-installed on all smartphones sold within the country, solidifying its role in the local tech ecosystem.
Having taken full ownership of RuStore earlier this year, VK did not disclose the financial details of the sale to Pankrushev, nor did it provide insights into the motivations behind this sudden divestment, just three years after the platform’s inception. Nevertheless, VK assured users that RuStore would maintain its operations seamlessly throughout the transition.
VK emphasized the importance of RuStore as a central access point for Android users in Russia, highlighting that the platform currently features over 110,000 applications and games, attracting 68 million monthly users.
Recent Developments and Controversies
On the same day as the announcement, Russian media outlets reported that applications associated with VK, including the popular social networking sites VKontakte and Odnoklassniki, were removed from both Google Play and Huawei’s AppGallery. This followed earlier removals from Apple’s App Store, further complicating VK’s digital presence.
The decision to sell RuStore also comes amid growing concerns regarding the platform’s security practices. Reports surfaced last month alleging that RuStore engages in user tracking by monitoring GPS data, cell towers, and nearby mobile base stations. Additionally, the marketplace faced accusations of logging installed applications, accessing user photo galleries, and downloading software without users’ explicit consent.
In response to these allegations, RuStore has firmly denied any wrongdoing, asserting that its access permissions align with standard practices observed across major app storefronts.
