Two days — that’s how long it took to sell out the 10,000-unit supply of the newest Apple tablets in Russia after the iPad 2 went on sale here, several months after it became available in the US.

Despite the fact that the device costs here 30 to 40 percent more than in Apple stores across the US, it’s hugely popular in Russia, among students and politicians alike. The latter group’s affection for the tablet is explained by that president Dmitry A. Medvedev’s is a big fan of Apple and the iPad. In fact, Russian Duma (the Lower House of Parliament) went ahead to order iPads for every single deputy “for work purposes”.

So far, Russia has been on the background of Apple’s marketing and distribution strategy despite the country’s large population and apparent high demand for Apple’s products. When the newest iPad went on sale last Friday, there were no lines or scuffles at the stores, probably because the majority of those who wanted the device, had already bought one, either abroad or in Moscow, where the iPad appeared the day after it became available in the US for the hair-raising price of $5000.

However, retailers report that two days after that supply of iPads ran out and they expect new shipments this week. According to them, iPad 2 had surpassed sales of the first generation tablet and likely to become the fastest-selling gadget in the modern history of the country.

Corny image via CafePress