Amazon comes to Russia

Moscow, April 19 (IANS/RIA Novosti) The world's biggest online retailer Amazon is opening a representative office in Russia, Forbes magazine said Friday.

Amazon's move comes just two days after the e-commerce giant announced its strategy to extend its app distribution business, Android-based Appstore, to nearly 200 countries.

Russia is currently Europe's largest internet market with an online audience of 61.3 million, according to a recent study by comScore.

Amazon's Russia office will be headed by Arkady Vitruk, former general director of Azbuka-Atticus publisher owned by media tycoon Alexander Mamut, Forbes said.

Vitruk has not officially confirmed his appointment.

Forbes sources said Vitruk was currently in talks with Amazon's management.

Russia's Federal Service for Intellectual Property (or Rospatent) has received the online retail giant's application for the registration of the Amazon trademark for the storage and delivery of goods, packaging for subsequent transportation, the electronic storage of texts, audio-visual products and files, according to Forbes.

Amazon is not the first global online giant to join the Russian-language internet.

In February 2010, US-based Ebay launched a trade portal in Russia and in the summer of 2012 it opened its representative office in Russia.

Amazon.com, Inc. started in 1994 as an online bookstore but soon diversified, selling DVDs, CDs, MP3 downloads, software, video games, electronics, consumer goods and other items.

--IANS/RIA Novosti

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