Russians to launch ‘Rossgram’ photo-share app after Instagram gets blocked

Russian tech entrepreneurs are set to launch an Instagram-clone app to help fill the void left by Instagram, which the authorities blocked this week.

The new service, which is known as Rossgram, will launch on March 28th and have additional functions such as crowdfunding and paid access for some content, its website said.

“My partner Kirill Filimonov and our group of developers were already ready for this turn of events and decided not to miss the opportunity to create a Russian analogue of a popular social network beloved by our compatriots,” Alexander Zobov, the initiative’s public relations director, wrote on the VKontakte social network.

Russian state communications regulator Roskomnadzor blocked access to Instagram from Monday after its U.S. owner Meta Platforms said last week it would allow social media users in Ukraine to post anti-Russia messages such as “Death to the Russian invaders.” This is a temporary change in Meta’s hate speech policy.

Russia, which has already banned Facebook, has opened a criminal investigation against Meta and prosecutors asked a court to designate the U.S. tech giant an “extremist organisation.” The case is due in court on Monday.

According to a photo shared by Zobov on Vkontakte, Rossgram’s colour scheme and layout will bear a strong resemblance to Instagram.