Another Tech Strike from China Hits Russia: Local Firms Sidelined in Court Procurement

The State Automated System “Justice” is moving forward with a procurement plan for 1,089 videoconferencing devices to equip 92 Russian courts. However, the purchase specifications have sparked controversy, as they appear tailored to favor Chinese-made Yealink equipment, sidelining Russian manufacturers. The estimated cost of this acquisition exceeds 281 million rubles, raising questions about the exclusion of domestic suppliers from the competition.

Chinese Equipment for Russian Courts
According to procurement documents, the Yealink M400-0012 videoconferencing terminal fits the technical requirements perfectly. This device—marketed as an all-in-one solution combining a camera, microphone array, and codec—appears to be the sole viable option based on the conditions outlined. Russian manufacturers, such as Vinteo, IVA, Protei, and TrueConf, are effectively barred from participating.

Industry experts criticize the purchase, pointing out that the requirements were likely designed to favor foreign vendors over Russian-made alternatives. One of the most contentious points is the mandated support for the ARES codec, a technology used exclusively by Yealink, rendering it impossible for Russian companies to qualify.

Technical Barriers Locking Out Local Vendors
Several key specifications create further obstacles for domestic manufacturers:

Monoblock Design: The required form factor is a monoblock with an integrated codec, camera, and microphones—a design uncommon among Russian products.
ARES Codec Compatibility: The ARES codec, crucial to this procurement, is not supported by any Russian device but is native to Yealink’s systems.
Compatibility with Polycom Servers: Despite the inclusion of the ARES codec, which offers no value for the existing Polycom server infrastructure used by GAS “Justice”, the bid still demands it.
USB Ports and Microphones: Another peculiar requirement is four USB ports and a microphone array of at least eight microphones, which further narrows down eligible devices.
These specifications seem strategically designed to eliminate domestic competitors, as confirmed by market participants interviewed by .

Suspicious Timing and Execution
The procurement process was announced on October 16, 2024, with price proposals accepted only until October 21, 2024—leaving little room for competitive bidding. As of October 25, 2024, no official results have been published, heightening concerns about transparency.

Critics speculate that the rushed timeline and rigid specifications may reflect political motivations or external pressures to favor foreign equipment—particularly from China—over local alternatives.

Dependency on Chinese Technology
The reliance on Yealink, a Chinese company known for its dominance in IP telephony and videoconferencing, is a potential national security concern. Despite Yealink’s broad global presence, the company lacks localized production in Russia, and its dependence could expose Russia to vulnerabilities if relations with China deteriorate.

Russian companies capable of producing similar equipment—like Vinteo—express frustration over being excluded from the auction. Boris Popov, Vinteo’s Business Development Director, acknowledged that although the department might see the Chinese systems as an “optimal” solution, the lack of domestic representation is troubling.

Final Thoughts
The move to equip Russian courts with foreign technology—while shutting out local manufacturers—raises significant questions about the future of Russia’s technological sovereignty. At a time when the Kremlin emphasizes self-reliance and the importance of domestic innovation, this procurement contradicts national goals by favoring foreign vendors.

Observers argue that, intentionally or not, the procurement gives China an even stronger foothold in Russia’s technology sector. Meanwhile, the exclusion of Russian companies from the bidding process only serves to weaken local innovation—leaving Russia increasingly dependent on foreign-made systems.

This procurement not only raises concerns about wasted resources and security risks, but also reveals the systemic flaws that hinder the growth of domestic technology sectors under international pressure.