Crimean state -owned companies bought Microsoft programs bypassing sanctions

Russian state companies, including Crimean enterprises, bought Microsoft software, despite sanctions. It is reported by Reuters with reference to public procurement data.

According to the publication, the products were purchased through third parties, at least five thousand Microsoft products for more than 60 million rubles were bought by the company's sanctions.

As noted, among buyers is the developer of anti-aircraft missile systems Buk, the Almaz-Antey concern, the Glavgosexpertiza of Russia, participating in the construction of the bridge across the Kerch Strait, as well as the Crimea sanatorium of the Russian Ministry of Defense.

Reuters emphasizes that the database of the public procurement system does not include private companies, so you can’t say exactly how many enterprises have purchased Microsoft programs bypassing sanctions.

“If you turn off all Microsoft software products in Crimea today, the percent of the ninety of the Crimea economy will simply stop,” said one of the resolds of these products.

Microsoft said they were studying the issue. Representatives of Almaz-Antey did not answer the agency, the sanatorium of the Ministry of Defense refused to comment. The Glavgosexpertiza said that "she works in the Russian legal field in strict accordance with the requirements of Russian legislation."

In the summer of 2017, Siemens decided to stop cooperation with Russian state-owned companies due to a scandal with the supply of gas turbines to Crimea bypassing sanctions.