In June 2024, Russian officials launched a criminal case against Telegram founder Pavel Durov, accusing him of aiding terrorism. This move is part of Moscow’s ongoing plan to exert more control over external messaging systems, aiming to shift citizens from externally sponsored products to state-backed alternatives.
As a result of these actions, tensions with Telegram are on the increase
Keeping with the state-run publication Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Durov is also being investigated by the Federal Security Service (FSB) on the basis of Section 1.1 of Article 205.1 of the criminal code of Russia Country, which addresses the assistance to terrorist acts, and is backed by FSB documentation. Telegram has refuted these claims, denying any claims of the service being a haven of criminal activity or a victim of Western or Ukrainian intelligence services.
This recent escalation occurs amid ongoing regulatory pressure throughout 2023 and into 2024, as Telegram’s user base surpassed one billion globally. Moscow has accused Telegram of failing to remove extremist material in compliance with national laws.
What is the Rationale behind the Russian Crackdown?
The Russian communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, has also imposed several restrictions on a regular basis, in an attempt to limit the use of Telegram in the country. Such actions have restricted the media sharing and voice facilities, citing the reason that the platform is being used to commit fraud and misuse of information.
Experts also argue that Telegram allows third-party services that deal with personal data buying and selling- something that the company denies. This Kremlin campaign is similar to previous campaigns to censor WhatsApp that denied up to 100 million Russian users’ access to the platform, and that was mainly aimed at redirecting them to the state-run messenger Max, a project that has received criticism because of privacy concerns by privacy activists due to its censorship.
Users and Political Impact
Telegram remains a key tool in Russia with an estimated 90–94 million local users, about two-thirds of the population. People use Telegram for news, business, and interaction. According to the scholars of digital rights, by focusing on Telegram, the path to digital authoritarianism in Russia can only be escalated. Gulnoza Said,
European and Central Asian coordinator of the Committee to Protect Journalists, noted that a suppression or limitation of independent communication secluded the citizens and undermined their ability to obtain credible information.
What Comes Next
Without tensions being defused, the future of Telegram in Russia becomes even more dangerous. As the possible total blockade looms and the state-proposed Max platform continues to implement its tools, average users will soon face a choice between the uncensored conversation and compliance with the Kremlin-imposed digital infrastructure, a shift that will have far-reaching ramifications on the digital freedom and information flow in 2026 and beyond.
