24 September 2014 Landrush has started in the .MOSCOW and .МОСКВА TLDs. During this period applications for domain names can be submitted by anyone at a cost that is higher than the standard one. Registration cost will be gradually decreased each week by 18 November.

“Landrush is organised for the goal of transparent distribution of most valuable domain names in the Moscow city extensions”, says Dmitry Burkov, Board Chairman of FAITID. “Higher registration cost enables to minimize the cases when most memorable domains – usually equal to dictionary words – are purchased for further sale. During Landrush domain names are expensive thus for the initial registrant it’s quite difficult to sell them with a substantial profit. So, the names during Landrush are usually registered by individuals and companies for some practical usage, eg website development, online promotions etc.”

Landrush is the last registration phase for the .MOSCOW and .МОСКВА TLDs before the General Availability, which will start December 1, 2014. During GA standard cost for domain names will be applied ($USD5 for registrars).

Earlier the Moscow city strings have passed through a number of priority periods when names’ registration was available to the owners of various individualization means as well as to the government.