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 that the state-backed app could gain more market share

if WhatsApp leaves.