Russian antitrust head wants to replace Google

MOSCOW, Dec 24 (PRIME) -- Director of Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service Igor Artemyev has suggested replacing Google with a local product, PRIME reported late Wednesday.

“If today in this climate of sanctions the replacement of imports is our highest value, let’s introduce a program to replace the products supplied by this outstanding firm (Google). Let’s do it. It’s absolutely within the government’s prerogative,” Artemyev said.

The authority punishes for violations of the law both domestic and foreign companies without any advantages given to anyone, he said.

The antimonopoly service earlier found Google guilty of abusing its dominant position on the market of preinstalled applications stores on Android devices. The case was opened following a claim filed by domestic Internet giant Yandex.

Google litigated the decision at court, and preliminary hearings will take place on January 25, 2016.

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