Russian authorities plan to block Telegram in early April, according to sources cited by RBK on Thursday, who described the move as final.
People close to the Kremlin said officials linked the measure to rising cases of illegal recruitment, including minors. The platform may continue operating only in combat zones. According to Komsomolskaya Pravda, Telegram’s administration failed to comply with requirements and did not remove 1,369 channels, chats, and bots related to child pornography, 3,771 related to drugs, 2,666 related to suicide, 2,124 involving the recruitment of minors into illegal activities and 10,500 channels calling for extremism and linked to “financing the enemy”.
The decision follows a February 10 slowdown ordered by Roskomnadzor, which accused the service of violating national law. A criminal probe was opened against founder Pavel Durov over alleged extremist content, claims he rejected as pressure on privacy and expression.
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