Prosecutor General’s Office to Develop Its Own Mobile Application

The Prosecutor General’s Office has held a tender for the creation of its own information system and mobile applications for iOS and Android, according to data published on the government procurement website. The procurement was first reported by Kommersant.

The initial contract value was 10,510,741 rubles. The winning bid came from a company owned by Anastasia Artemyeva, who offered to complete the work for 7,885,239 rubles. According to SPARK data, Artemyeva previously served as the CEO of the St. Petersburg software developer Runetsoft, a contractor for the Ministry of Economic Development and several regional government agencies. The company’s main activity is the repair of computers and peripheral computer equipment.

According to the tender documents, the main function of the information system is to facilitate interaction between citizens and the Prosecutor General’s Office, increase the share of mobile traffic, and improve the quality of processing citizen requests. The technical specifications state that the system should simplify the process of submitting applications, such as reports of extremism or violations of children’s rights, provide a direct line for entrepreneurs, and allow users to quickly schedule appointments. The system will also offer up-to-date information on changes in legislation.

Through the mobile app, Russian citizens will be able to receive news and view “stories” consisting of photos and videos with clickable links. The app will require access to the user’s geolocation to display the nearest office on an integrated map. Users will be able to log in using a password or fingerprint.

The creation of the information system under the contract is scheduled to be completed by March 1, 2022.

Experts interviewed by Kommersant believe the app will be in demand among citizens. However, concerns about personal data may hinder its popularity, noted Pavel Ikkert, managing partner at the law firm Ikkert & Partners.

“Citizens have certain fears about government interference in their private lives,” he said.

The Prosecutor General’s Office has not yet responded to the publication’s request for comment.

Earlier, it was reported that a new app called “People’s Inspector” will be launched based on the “Moscow Assistant” project. This app will allow city residents to report illegal parking, parking on lawns, and other traffic violations. Legislative changes allowing fines to be issued without drawing up a protocol are planned to be introduced by July 1, 2022.