Putin Restricts Telegram in Russia, Claiming “protection of Russian citizens”

Russian authorities have begun restricting access to Telegram, one of the country's most widely used messaging platforms, in a move officials describe as necessary for the «protection of Russian citizens». The announcement was made Tuesday by Russia's telecommunications regulator, Roskomnadzor, which accused the app of failing to comply with domestic legislation. According to the regulator, the platform did not adequately address content authorities classify as criminal or extremist. The decision represents one of the most significant actions taken against Telegram in recent years and underscores the Kremlin's broader campaign to increase control over digital communications. Telegram remains deeply embedded in Russian daily life, used by government agencies, media outlets, businesses, military personnel and millions of private citizens for messaging, news distribution and public channels.

In its official statement, Roskomnadzor said it would continue restricting the messenger «until violations of Russian law are eliminated». The regulator added: «Personal data is not protected, and there are no effective measures to counter fraud or the use of the messaging service for criminal and terrorist purposes.» Authorities argue the measures are designed to curb illegal activity and safeguard users' data. Russian state news agency TASS reported that Telegram faces fines of 64 million rubles for allegedly refusing to remove prohibited content and failing to self-regulate. The enforcement action forms part of a broader tightening of digital oversight, as Moscow pushes technology companies to store data locally and comply with state demands regarding content moderation.

The impact of the restrictions was immediate. Users across Russia reported significant disruptions, with thousands filing complaints that Telegram was inaccessible or operating more slowly than usual. Outage-tracking service Downdetector registered more than 11,000 complaints within 24 hours of the measures taking effect. The scale of the disruption highlights Telegram's unique position in Russia's digital ecosystem. Unlike some Western platforms that have been blocked or voluntarily exited the Russian market, Telegram has remained operational and widely relied upon. Its channels serve as a primary source of news, commentary and official government announcements, including communications from regional authorities and federal agencies.

Telegram founder Pavel Durov publicly criticized the restrictions, framing them as politically motivated. In a statement, he wrote: «Telegram stands for freedom of speech and privacy, no matter the pressure.» He further stated: «Russia is restricting access to Telegram in an attempt to force its citizens to switch to a state-controlled app built for surveillance and political censorship.» Drawing a comparison with earlier efforts abroad, Durov added: «Eight years ago, Iran tried the same strategy – and failed. It banned Telegram on made-up pretexts, trying to force people onto a state-run alternative.» Telegram has consistently denied claims that it ignores illegal activity, saying it removes harmful content and cooperates with legitimate law enforcement requests within its privacy framework.

Russia's state-backed alternative is Max, a messaging application developed by VK, the social media company that Durov co-founded before leaving Russia in 2014. VK is now state-owned, and authorities have required that Max be pre-installed on all new smartphones and tablets sold in the country. The app includes messaging, payments and audio and video calling functions, positioning it as a comprehensive domestic platform. The push toward Max follows earlier measures in August, when Roskomnadzor announced partial restrictions on calls through Telegram and WhatsApp, claiming those services were used in «fraud, extortion, and sabotage and terrorist activities.» The strategy reflects Moscow's long-standing objective of promoting domestically controlled digital infrastructure.

This is not the first confrontation between the Kremlin and Telegram. In 2018, Russia attempted to block the app after it refused to provide encryption keys to security services, but the ban proved technically difficult to enforce and was later lifted. Analysts note that Russia has studied more restrictive internet models, including China's approach to digital control, yet faces technical and societal limitations in fully isolating its online environment. The renewed crackdown has drawn criticism from some Russian military bloggers, who rely on Telegram for battlefield updates and coordination. While authorities argue the measures protect citizens, the restrictions mark another step in the state's expanding control over information flows inside Russia.

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