Anton Gorelkin, a member of the State Duma, has indicated that WhatsApp may be forced to exit the Russian market under current conditions.

This information comes from Reuters.

The concern stems from the introduction of a new tab in the app, which could be deemed a violation of local laws, potentially leading to the messenger being added to a banned software list.

Gorelkin stated, "WhatsApp needs to prepare for leaving the Russian market," emphasizing that the parent company Meta is classified as an extremist organization in Russia.

He also mentioned that the state-run app MAX could capture market share if WhatsApp is blocked. According to him, 68% of Russians use Meta's services daily.

This week, the Kremlin released new directives from Putin, which include restrictions on software from "unfriendly countries," including communication platforms. The deadline for compliance is September 1.

Gorelkin added that the Telegram platform, created by Russian Pavel Durov, is likely to avoid blocking as long as it adheres to legal requirements. According to Roskomnadzor, Telegram has already started the process of registering a Russian legal entity.