MOSCOW, July 18 (Reuters) - WhatsApp should prepare to

leave the Russian market, a lawmaker who regulates the IT sector

said on Friday, warning that the messaging app owned by Meta

Platforms ( META ) is very likely to be put on a list of

restricted software.

Russian President Vladimir Putin last month signed a law

authorising the development of a state-backed messaging app

integrated with government services, as Moscow strives to reduce

its dependence on platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram.

Anton Gorelkin, deputy head of the lower house of

parliament's information technology committee, said in a

statement on Telegram that the state-backed app, MAX, could gain

market share should WhatsApp, used by 68% of Russians each day,

leave.

"It's time for WhatsApp to prepare to leave the Russian

market," Gorelkin said, noting that Meta is designated as an

extremist organisation in Russia.

The company's Facebook and Instagram social media platforms

have been banned in Russia since 2022 when Moscow sent tens of

thousands of troops into Ukraine.

Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT

Anton Nemkin, a member of the parliament's IT committee,

said WhatsApp's fate in Russia was predetermined.

"The presence of such a service in Russia's digital space

is, in fact, a legal breach of national security," the TASS news

agency quoted Nemkin as saying.

Asked if WhatsApp might leave Russia, Kremlin spokesman

Dmitry Peskov said all services must abide by Russian law.

Russia has long sought to establish what it calls digital

sovereignty by promoting home-grown services. Its push to

replace foreign tech platforms became more urgent as some

Western companies pulled out of the Russian market after 2022.

The Kremlin this week published a list of instructions from

Putin, including an order to introduce additional restrictions

on the use in Russia of software, including communication

services, produced in so-called "unfriendly countries" that have

imposed sanctions against Russia.

Putin gave a deadline of September 1. Gorelkin, referring to

Putin's order, said WhatsApp was likely to be among those

communication services restricted.

Gorelkin said he expected Telegram, founded by Russian-born

Pavel Durov, to avoid being banned, provided it complies with

Russian law.

Telegram has started the procedure for creating a Russian

legal entity, according to an update from state communications

regulator Roskomnadzor this week.