Ministries discussing ban on parallel imports of servers and smartphones with Russian equivalents - Shadayev

ST. PETERSBURG. June 19 (Interfax) - The Russian Digital Development and Communications Ministry and Industry and Trade Ministry are discussing the introduction of a ban on the parallel import of servers and data storage systems from unfriendly countries that have competitive Russian equivalents, as well as Samsung and LG mobile devices, Digital Development and Communications Minister Maksut Shadayev told reporters.

"We are now discussing with the Industry and Trade Ministry a ban on the parallel import of heavy computer equipment [servers and storage systems] from unfriendly countries [for example, HP, IBM, and so on], which has competitive Russian counterparts, as well as a ban on parallel import of Samsung and LG smartphones and mobile devices, because there are Chinese counterparts that are in no way inferior," he said on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

He said the initiative did not extend to iPhones.

"We're discussing a ban on those positions for which there are effective competitive equivalents - either Russian or from friendly countries," he said.

He did not say when the decision might be approved, but did say it might "not take long."