It's not just Russia that is opposed to private internet telephony applications. Buried deep in the article the real reason comes out:

Delegates at the meeting also warned that it has been impossible for police to spy on VoIP conversations

The NSA has admitted the same thing here--enough to tap the hacker market to find a "solution". (Offering big money to those who would help break our privacy, for their own gain).

Too bad. It's not only cheap to place calls this way, but so far very private.