23 Jan 2018 14:34

Restricting software sales in Russia due to sanctions could cost Microsoft billions - Nikiforov

DAVOS. Jan 23 (Interfax) - Restricting software sales to Russian clients due to possible sanctions-related risks could cost Microsoft billions, Russian Communications Minister Nikolai Nikiforov told reporters on the sidelines of the forum in Davos.

"This will end up with the company losing practically a whole market worth billions of dollars from the point of view of corporate state clients in our country," Nikiforov said.

He said that in addition to the cost of the licenses, Microsoft would also lose a number of other services that the company and its partners provide in Russia.

"We do not understand what practical sense there is in this. This has absolutely no purpose from the point of view of the very expediency of these sanctions," he said.

Reports said yesterday that two official Microsoft dealers in Russia - Merlion and RRC - had imposed restrictions on the sale of the company's software products for more than 200 Russian companies due to the introduction of new U.S. sanctions.